Sugar Cane Alley

            Self-determination seemed to be the overarching theme in the film Sugar Cane Alley.  We can see this in a number of characters, but mostly in the protagonist, José.  His will to strive for a higher education and a better life for himself made him an extremely likeable character.  This film tells the story of a young boy growing up in the newly colonized West Indies, going through the hardships that follow such an event.   He is eager to learn about his surroundings and clearly wants a better life than that of a cane field laborer. José has a few noteworthy mentors, and people that help to get him on this idyllic path to a brighter future.  

            To start with, we have his grandma, Ma Tine, who is a very tough yet supportive guardian for the boy.  While she is a mentor for José, Ma Tine definitely has her own self-determination to power through her own work to support José.  She does not want him to work in the cane fields and forbids him from going off and becoming another unfortunate black slave. Even when they are hard up for money, she would rather put herself through those hardships than see José start to slide down that slippery slope.  Since José does not have a mother or father, Ma Tine has to be his main teacher and provider.  When José returns home from school everyday, she asks him what he had learned that day, and showed a noticeable interest in what he was saying.  Another example of this encouragement towards learning is when she asks him what the newspaper says that he is putting on the windows.   

            One scene that depicts her strength to continue to support José is right after he has just thrown a rock at Mrs. Leonce’s dishes.  Because he and Mrs. Leonce had a falling out, she will most likely stop making lunches for him, and provide him with a job.  Ma Tine is visibly upset to find out that José had not eaten that day and decides that they will move to the city.  She packs up their suitcases without a moment’s hesitation, which shows how dedicated she is to bringing up her grandson properly.  The dialogue in the scenes where Ma Tine is packing up her clothes, and then when she is washing and drying clothes are key.  She is asking for God, and the Virgin Mary to give her the strength in her old body to go on.  This foreshadows her inevitable sickness and death, but proves that she is striving to make it through for José.  

            Another character that contributes to José’s good intentions is Mr. Medouze.   If we consider archetype or stock characters, Mr. Medouze would definitely be the wise old sage.  He provides José with stories about his environment and his culture that José takes to heart.  In the first scene where Medouze is telling José about his ancestors in Africa, the cinematography plays up the influence that the old man has on the young boy.  The set is dark, except for the light of the fire that is reflecting off of both their faces. José sits across from Medouze and stares at him, almost in a hypnotic trance, just absorbing what he is saying.  The camera shots are close ups of their faces, and are shot reverse shots.  The look in José’s eyes is one of eagerness to listen, and learn of this man’s past.   

            WhenJosé finally does get to school, he sits up very proper in class and is attentive to his teacher.  He also does not partake in a conversation with his neighbor while they are in lecture, because that would be distracting to his learning.  Another example is when they are out at recess and he refuses to break things.  José just wants to learn and he does not want anything to stop him.  We also can see him as the mentor for Carmen.  In his spare time, José teaches his friend Carmen to write, and he enjoys sharing this knowledge.  

            One element that should be brought up is Joseph Cambell’s theory called the “Journey of the Hero.”  This is a set of steps that most protagonists follow in order to get what they are searching for.  Self-determination and want are key here, something has to be obtained at the end. When looking as José’s character, he follows the guidelines for this basic plot structure pretty closely. The basic three steps in the hero’s journey are the departure, initiation, and the return.  The call to adventure is when José’s teacher wants him to take the school certificate exam, which he passes.  The initiation section includes a road of trials, which for José would be going to Fort du France and then overcoming the accusations of plagiarism.  After he proves himself worthy, he must make the inevitable return back into society and put what he learned into good use.  This may be difficult for him now that his grandmother has passed, but he has his boarding and schooling expenses paid for, so the end is left open for us to decide what he does with his future, but his education will be useful to him.  

            José never would have been able to go to Fort du France without the belief in himself to strive for an education.  He realizes that he is not meant for the cane fields, and can better serve society with a degree from school.   With the help and support from his grandmother, Mr. Medouze, and his teachers, he will surely lead a life that does not include manual labor, but one of higher intellect.  His will power and want of education got him out of Black Shack Alley.