Picture: Earlan Edole and his partner and movie director Natasha Rekondie posing with Pauline and Murvin Gumbs.
Next week Monday, March 27, and Tuesday, March 28, the locally-made movie “It’s a Hot Mess” will be showing at Belair Community Centre. The two- and a half-hour long movie was shot locally here in St. Maarten, under the direction of first-time director Natasha Rekondie.
On Saturday, February 25, “It’s a Hot Mess” premiered at Belair Community Centre. According to Rekondie, the film received much positive feedback, which is why there will be extra showings for those who missed it. Of course, there will be plenty of drinks and snacks on offer.
“It’s a Hot Mess” is a Caribbean drama filled with suspense, explained film producer Natasha Rekondie. The movie centres on four families – a couple living together for more than 20 years; a younger, bilingual couple (the woman speaks Spanish); a single mother with two teenagers, and a married man who is living with his side-chick. Each family presents its own series of drama.
Rekondie said the main message of the film, that the audience can expect to walk away with is: “Be grateful for what you have” – a message fit for all ages.
A physical therapist by profession, Rekondie featured several of her clients as actors in the film, many who have never acted in any production prior to this movie. More experienced actors on the island were also brought on board for the movie.
The movie showcases some of the island’s prime locations, such as Princess Juliana International Airport, Rainbow Beach Club, Chesterfields, Beirut and some of our beautiful beaches.
“This is my first time ever writing a script. I am very excited to see it now coming true. I will continue writing. The hard part in making this movie was the part that you don’t get sponsors. It’s very difficult to get sponsors. But with the few ones we got, we made this event possible and a big hit,” Rekondie said.
The movie is a production two years in the making. Rekondie wrote the script, even though she had no previous experience. “I have no background in movies, I only know a lot about movies. So this was a totally different arena for me,” she explained. “My husband was my inspiration. I am a movie freak, and during the COVID lockdown, I was watching a lot of movies, and my thought was: ‘I can write that too’; so I started.”
With the film’s success, Rekondie is currently working on a comedy. “And, yes,” she added, “there will be a sequel to the movie, It’s a Hot Mess.”
“It’s a Hot Mess” will be shown at Belair Community Centre on Monday, March 27; Tuesday, March 28; Wednesday, April 5; and Thursday, April 6, at 7:00pm sharp. Tickets are available for $20 by contacting +1 (721) 588-3214 or 522-2442.
