Rain (2008 film)
Encyclopedia
Rain is a 2008 film directed by Maria Govan. This was among the first feature productions to be shot entirely by citizens of the Bahamas.
, the sights of the big city overwhelm her, and soon she finds her idealistic illusions shattered when she finds how destructive her mother's lifestyle has truly become. Stranded in an unfamiliar environment that fills her with dread and confronted by a mother she has never known, Rain searches desperately to find her own place in the world.
films among other efforts. Gowan's film was shot during four weeks on three different islands of the Bahamas, including New Providence
and Eleuthera
; filming also took place in New York City.
. On December 4, 2008, it became the opening selection of the 2008 Bahamas International Film Festival
.
Rain was released on DVD in the U.S. on July 27, 2010.
said: "Displaying an eye for composition, helmer Govan (who spent two years observing a crack house for docu Where I’m From: HIV and AIDS in the Bahamas), knows her milieu — essentially the antithesis of Bahamian tourist-board images. Martina Radwan’s gritty lensing and Denise Hudson’s detailed production design provide ample support." She, however, commented on "the script's melodramatic cliches and some weak supporting [performances]".
Plot
A young Bahamian girl, Rain, boards a local mail boat from Ragged Island and sets sail for Nassau. The death of her grandmother has forced her to get out and explore the world on her own. When she arrives in NassauNassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
, the sights of the big city overwhelm her, and soon she finds her idealistic illusions shattered when she finds how destructive her mother's lifestyle has truly become. Stranded in an unfamiliar environment that fills her with dread and confronted by a mother she has never known, Rain searches desperately to find her own place in the world.
Production
Rain was the first film to be directed by Maria Gowan, who raised the US$1 million budget through Bahamian investors. It was also one of the first features to be produced entirely in the Bahamas (the first being "Filthy Rich Gangster"), which had long been a filming location for the James BondJames Bond (film series)
The James Bond film series is a British series of motion pictures based on the fictional character of MI6 agent James Bond , who originally appeared in a series of books by Ian Fleming. Earlier films were based on Fleming's novels and short stories, followed later by films with original storylines...
films among other efforts. Gowan's film was shot during four weeks on three different islands of the Bahamas, including New Providence
New Providence
New Providence is the most populous island in the Bahamas, containing more than 70% of the total population. It also houses the national capital city, Nassau.The island was originally under Spanish control following Christopher Columbus' discovery of the New World, but the Spanish government showed...
and Eleuthera
Eleuthera
Eleuthera is an island in The Bahamas, lying 50 miles east of Nassau. It is very long and thin—110 miles long and in places little more than a mile wide. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Eleuthera is approximately 8,000...
; filming also took place in New York City.
Release
In early September 2008, Rain received its world premiere at the Toronto International Film FestivalToronto International Film Festival
The Toronto International Film Festival is a publicly-attended film festival held each September in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. In 2010, 339 films from 59 countries were screened at 32 screens in downtown Toronto venues...
. On December 4, 2008, it became the opening selection of the 2008 Bahamas International Film Festival
Bahamas International Film Festival
Bahamas International Film Festival is an annual film festival held in early December in the Bahamas, founded in 2004.The Bahamas International Film Festival is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing the local community and international visitors with a diverse presentation of films...
.
Rain was released on DVD in the U.S. on July 27, 2010.
Reception
When the film was shown at the Toronto Film Festival, Alissa Simon of VarietyVariety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
said: "Displaying an eye for composition, helmer Govan (who spent two years observing a crack house for docu Where I’m From: HIV and AIDS in the Bahamas), knows her milieu — essentially the antithesis of Bahamian tourist-board images. Martina Radwan’s gritty lensing and Denise Hudson’s detailed production design provide ample support." She, however, commented on "the script's melodramatic cliches and some weak supporting [performances]".