Doubles is a Canadian drama film, directed by Ian Harnarine and released in 2023.Julien Neaves, "Touching Doubles film and sweet soca at Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival". Trinidad and Tobago Newsday, September 23, 2023. An expansion of his Genie Award-winning 2011 short film Doubles with Slight Pepper, the film stars Sanjiv Boodhu as Dhani, a young doubles vendor in Trinidad who travels to Toronto to visit his estranged father Ragbir (Errol Sitahal), only to learn that his father is dying.Marie Saadeh, "'Doubles' Looks at a Toronto Through a New Lens". Exclaim!, July 26, 2024.
Its cast also includes Rashaana Cumberbatch, David Fraser, Leela Sitahal, Vas Saranga, Oluniké Adeliyi, Stephanie Herrera, Orville Cummings, Premika Leo, Patti-Anne Ali and Kris Persad.
Production and distribution The film was announced as receiving funding from Telefilm Canada's Talent to Watch program in 2019.Radheyan Simonpillai, "A Canadian movie about Trinidadian doubles is in the works". Now, June 12, 2019. Production was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
It premiered on September 17, 2023, at the 2023 Atlantic International Film Festival,Taimur Sikander Mirza, "Ian Harnarine’s Doubles to open Canadian Film Fest". Playback, February 26, 2024. and was screened the following week as the opening film of the Trinidad and Tobago Film Festival.
It was subsequently screened as the opening film of the 2024 Canadian Film Festival, before going into commercial release in July 2024.Emma Badame, "Exclusive: Doubles Trailer Premiere". That Shelf, June 29, 2024.
Critical response Marie Saadeh of Exclaim! wrote that "The strongest elements of the film are the performances by Boodhu and Sitahal, who masterfully convey a strained and stubborn yet, beneath it all, loving father-son dynamic that invites us to care deeply about each character's journey. A lively Caribbean soundtrack accompanies the film and often contrasts with the dark and harsh Canadian winter we see Dhani experience for the first time. Harnarine shows true care and intention in how the culture around Caribbean food is depicted in the film. It's a touching tribute to the immigrant experience and forgiveness, and undoubtedly will leave its audience hungry for some doubles."
Awards Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Canadian Film Festival 2024 William F. White Reel Canadian Indie Doubles Kelly Townsend, "Doubles leads 2024 Canadian Film Fest winners". Playback, March 25, 2024. People's Pick for Best Flick Best Supporting Performance Errol Sitahal
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