‘Hit For Six’ entertains

However, while Hit For Six has been billed as a Caribbean story of love, scandal and desire, there are two underlying themes — the current worrying state of West Indies cricket and how moral values are important in the quest for success.

Before the airing of the movie on Monday at MovieTowne, Manzoor Baksh, founder of the Clico Preysal Cricket Club and host of the event, expressed amazement that many young aspiring cricketers don’t have a clue of the past cricketing greats and the legacy of West Indian cricket.

“It is lamentable and sad sometimes when some of our youngsters, even some of the middle-aged people, do not know who Sir Learie Constantine is,” Baksh said.

“I hope that a film of this nature will certainly fill some sort of reconstruction in the minds of our youngsters and maybe people of all types, whether you are interested in sport or not to regenerate that enthusiasm in sports.”

Saunders-Franklyn said she hoped her first feature film can be an inspiration to followers of cricket. She revealed that former Barbados and West Indies all-rounder Philo Wallace trained lead actor Andrew Pilgrim, who played the part of Alex Nelson the sidelined star cricketer, the correct way to hold a bat and positioning of his feet to make it as real as possible.

As for “Nelson” and his cheating ways, one of the most powerful scenes in the movie was when he was taken to church for spiritual upliftment but instead faced the wrath of the pastor and his celebrants.

“Nelson” was forced to flee the church, only to later beg the priest to pray for him when he hit rock bottom, another touching scene in the movie.

Several of Barbados’ cricket legends make cameo appearances in the film, including Sir Everton Weekes, Gordon Greenidge, Desmond Haynes, Reverend Wes Hall, Joel Garner and Seymour Nurse.

Local girl Jeanille Bonterre (Astrid Jones) and Barbadian Varia Williams (Janelle Wilson) were both present at the premiere.

Bonterre took time off her New York-based job to be here for the premiere and to reunite with family, so too did English-trained, Barbados-based Williams.

However Rudolph Walker, OBE, was unable to revisit his homeland.

Hit For Six is now showing at MovieTowne, Trincity Cinemas, Kay Donna Drive-In and Hobosco.