The Sidewalk Cafe moves closer to home in July, presenting a series of movies set in and around these territories.

The first film, to be aired on Tuesday next, is The Hummingbird Tree based on the award-winning book by Dr Ian McDonald. It was first published in 1969, and in 1992 was made into a BBC film shot in Trinidad.

Set in the Caribbean of the 1940s, the film revolves around the class structure with whites at the top and coloureds at the bottom. One of the more liberal British-born whites has allowed his 12-year-old son, Alan, to become friends with two children from the bottom of the social ladder. This gains the boy some brickbats from his schoolmates but otherwise seems not to be a problem.

Jailin is a girl whom Alan is almost in love with. Kaiser is her older brother, and Alan’s relationship with him is considerably edgier but still friendly.

However, on the island around him, nonwhites are being given the vote for the first time, and interracial tensions are growing more dangerous. Outside events may dictate an early end to Alan’s unusual friendships.
The film starts at 7 pm and as usual, admission is free.