While some were busy doing manual work over the Labour Day weekend, others were engaged in the digital world watching movies, including the newest release, Chokehold, on the streaming platform Tubi. Chokehold, which features an international cast including its lead actress, Jamaican Sherando Ferril, chronicles the pitfalls and pain of an abusive relationship, and the resilience required to get out of it and all the ramifications that may follow. This comes at a time when the ‘Me Too’ movement has made significant advancement, plus many female celebrities have gone public about their personal experiences in an effort to help others have the courage to find their own voice and walk away.

The film examines the lives of Mike (Enyinna Nwigwe) and Victoria (Sherando Ferril), a married couple imprisoned by haunting memories that threaten their broken relationship. Mike, a decorated police officer, struggles with inner demons while his wife strives to break away from the vicious cycle of abuse. Shot in St. Martin in 2022 and later shown at the Cannes Film Festival, the film features an international cast including known Nollywood actors and BET’s Brely Evans.

A leading figure in the Caribbean film and television industry, writer, producer and director, Joel Ayuk, founded Cani TV, a local channel in Saint -Martin, and established the Saint -Martin International Film Festival (SIFF). Ayuk, who originally hails from Cameroon, has been a resident of Saint-Martin for more than two decades. With a career spanning close to two decades, he shared with The Gleaner that his inspiration for the film was real-life experiences surrounding domestic violence and mental health.