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Brooklyn’s own Caribbean Film Series continues to bring standout films from the West Indies to the New York community at large, and with this go-around they present the Carnival-centered film “Bazodee,” on Wednesday, September 7th, just days after NYC’s world-renowned Labor Day celebrations.

“Bazodee” stars singer and songwriter Machel Montano, the leading voice in Caribbean-originated soca music, in his first acting role as the leading man in this ‘Bollywood musical meets Carnival’ drama.

As previously reported, in the film, dutiful Indian daughter Anita Panchouri (Natalie Perera), a native Indo-Trinidadian, is set to marry a wealthy suitor from England in order to get her businessman father out of a deep debt. However, a chance encounter with local singer Lee de Leon (Montano) sets things askew for Natalie, and when Lee ends up performing at the new couple’s engagement party, the nascent feelings between her and Lee blossom, leading to the ultimate form of ‘bazodee’ – dizzying love and sensations. With the excitement of Carnival approaching, Anita must now choose between the loveless marriage that will be the answer to her family’s financial prayers or the possibility of real love.

The film also stars noted Indian actors Kabir Bedi, Valmike Rampersad, and Staz Nair. The screenplay is written by Barbados-born writer Claire Ince.

Filmed entirely in Trinidad & Tobago and filled with the pulsating dance rhythms of soca, “Bazodee” is a new style Bollywood film with distinct Caribbean island flavor, that also slyly plays with some of the ongoing racial politics in Trinidad.

Presented by the Caribbean Film Academy, the Brooklyn Cinema Collective, and BAMcinématek “Bazodee” will screen as part of the Caribbean Film Series at BAM Rose Cinemas on Wednesday, September 7th at 7:30pm. A Q&A will follow the film. The short film “Cleaning House” (14 min – 2013), by Jamaican writer and director Toni Blackford, precedes the film.

For tickets and information go to http://www.bam.org/film/2016/bazodee. For more information about the Caribbean Film Series go to CaribbeanFilm.org or bkCinemaCollective.org.

Machel Montano

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