Bruce Paddington
remembers the art of Raoul Pantin
Raoul Pantin was a talented man who excelled as an author, a reporter, a columnist, an editor, a radio journalist, a poet, a playwright and screenwriter.
As a playwright he wrote a number of plays including Hatuey, Sanctuary and Radio Republic 555. Radio Republic was especially prescient as it described a situation in which the whole country was shut down because of traffic congestion. His plays were far better than the majority of contemporary local theatre and deserved to be produced again.
Pantin also wrote screenplays for the films Bim and The Haunting of Avril (later named Obeah). Director Hugh Robertson and Sharc Productions had planned to adapt the book The Murders of Boysie Singh by Derek Bickerton, but contractual arrangements broke down. Pantin offered to write a script for Robertson focusing on the pre-Independence period and the political tensions between the African and East Indian populations. This was to become the Caribbean classic Bim staring Ralph Maraj and Wilbert Holder.
Pantin credits his upbringing in the multi-racial St James for his ability to authentically depict Indo- and Afro-Trinidadian characters. He recalled that he had direct experience of the racial discrimination faced by rural Indo-Trinidadians as portrayed in the the scene when young Bhim is persecuted by his urban black class mates and teacher.
The film still has lessons for us 40 years later and is popular whenever it is shown. A DVD of the film that includes a CD with the superb soundtrack by Andre Tanker has recently been released.
Pantin went on the write The Haunting of Avril for Hugh Robertson, based on an original screenplay by Hans Boos and starring Tony Hall and Eunice Alleyne. Unfortunately the film is still not yet fully complete (although a version was shown in California) and it has never been screened in Trinidad.
It would be a great tribute to Raoul Pantin if it could be shown at this year's T&T Festival, even though he will not be there to enjoy it.
