Danny Glover slave drama Tula: The Revolt to close 2013 trinidad+tobago film festival

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We are pleased to announce that the slave-uprising drama Tula: The Revolt, starring Danny Glover, will close this year’s trinidad+tobago film festival (ttff). The film will screen on 01 October and enjoy its T&T premiere at the Festival.

Tula: The Revolt is based on true events that took place on the island of Curaçao in 1795. It tells the story of Tula (Obi Abili), an enslaved African who, after learning of the successful revolution in Haiti, downs tools and sets out to meet with the governor, de Veer (Jeroen Krabbé), to demand his people’s freedom.

The rulers don’t look kindly upon Tula’s actions. But they resonate with his fellow slaves, including Shinishi (Glover). Inspired by Tula’s example, they unite in a passionate struggle for equality, freedom and brotherhood.

Shot entirely on Curaçao, Tula: The Revolt is an English-language, Dutch-Netherlands Antilles co-production, and features an international cast. It was written and directed by first-time feature-filmmaker Jeroen Leinders.

Leinders, who is from the Netherlands, spent a large part of his youth on Curaçao, and lives and works there regularly. He will be present at the Festival to introduce his film.

“We are very pleased to have Tula: The Revolt be the closing night film of the Festival,” said Jonathan Ali, Editorial Director of the ttff. “In particular, we note that it is based on real events, and hope that when people see the film they will be inspired to learn more about Tula, the historical figure.”

The ttff/13 begins on 17 September with the Caribbean premiere of the Nigerian film Half of a Yellow Sun, directed by Biyi Bandele and starring Thandie Newton and Chiwetel Ejiofor.

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Image: Danny Glover (Shinishi), second from left, and Obi Abili (Tula), right, in a scene from Tula: The Revolt