Doubles Poster

Synopsis

“Doubles” is titled for the flatbread-and-spice snack that’s hugely popular in Trinidad. It’s what street vendor Dhani (Sanjiv Boodhu) unhappily serves alongside his mother, Sumintra (Leela Sitahal), as their sole means of making a living. They were abandoned years ago by Dhani’s estranged father, Ragbir (Errol Sitahal), who immigrated to Canada with a promise of returning to get them, a promise never fulfilled.

Screening

December 15th at 2pm
Oyate Headquarters
276 Grand Concourse,
Bronx, NY 10451

Trailer

Filmmakers

Ian K. Harnarine

Ian Harnarine

Writer/Director

Ian Harnarine was born in Toronto, Canada and is the son of immigrants from Trinidad & Tobago. He attended York University earning a Bachelor’s degree in Physics & Astronomy and a Master’s degree in Nuclear Physics from the University of Illinois. He eventually became bored with Physics research, moved to Brooklyn and became a filmmaker. Harnarine has since earned an MFA from NYU’s Graduate Film School.

Harnarine is a member of the National Board of Review, The Television Academy and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television. Harnarine’s film “Doubles With Slight Pepper” (Executive Produced by Spike Lee), won the Best Short Film Award at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Canadian Academy Award. “Caroni”, about a West Indian domestic worker in New York, premiered at TIFF and continues to screen at festivals worldwide. Harnarine has made dozens of films for Sesame Street, one of which garnered an Emmy nomination. “Party Done”, Harnarine’s feature documentary about controversial crime reporter Ian Alleyne, played theatrically in the Caribbean. “Doubles”, a feature film, is currently in post-production while Harnarine writes an adaptation of David Chariandy’s novel “Soucouyant”. Harnarine was selected by Filmmaker Magazine as one of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film, profiled in the New York Times and named one of Playback Magazine’s Ten to Watch.

Reviews

It opens our eyes to the plight many immigrants feel when they come to a different country for what they believe will be a better way of life.

Rod Thedorff
In The Seats

Rating

As an Indo-Caribbean American, seeing Indo-Caribbean characters on the big screen was incredibly validating.

Anita Baksh
Professor of English at LaGuardia Community College

Rating

Visually gripping from start to finish, the cinematography of Doubles is worth not blinking an eye.

Rohan Narine
Organizing Consultant for Hindus for Human Rights

Rating

Doubles had me laughing and crying…, a universal story that can touch anyone, anywhere.

Julien Neaves
Caribbean Head Writer

Rating

Media

Awards