On this year’s National Heroes’ Day, the Caribbean nation of Grenada paused to honor the lives lost 43 years ago, in a 1983 political upheaval that shook the small island country to its core. October 19, 1983, remains one of the darkest dates in Grenada’s modern history: on that day, Maurice Rupert Bishop — the country’s revolutionary former prime minister, born in May 1944 — was assassinated alongside six other supporters and allies: Fitzroy Bain, Norris Bain, Jacqueline Creft, Vincent Noel and Unison Whiteman. The killings were carried out by soldiers loyal to Bernard Coard, Bishop’s own deputy, amid a bitter internal split within the country’s ruling revolutionary government.
Decades later, the legacy of that violence, and the subsequent U.S. invasion of Grenada that followed days after the killings, continues to shape collective memory for Grenadians at home and abroad. A 2022 documentary film titled *My Mother, Mary* offers an intimate, personal exploration of the themes of liberty, revolutionary struggle and mass migration, told entirely through the personal stories and perspectives of Grenadians spread across the globe.
The 23-minute feature carries a deliberate, heartfelt dedication that frames its mission: “Dedicated to all who lost their lives on 19 October 1983 and during the US invasion of Grenada, as well as those who are figuring out how to recover from those dark days.” The full documentary is currently available for free public viewing on YouTube via the link https://youtu.be/bKDqMkcExK0.
Created by a diverse team of filmmakers, the project is led by director and co-writer Kayko Donald, who shares writing credit with Anissa Phoolsawat. Jaime Lee Rodney served as executive producer, while Rhea Prendergast filled the role of producer. The cast includes Mary Donald, Dwayne Fleary Thompson, Romero Donald, Jermane Donald, Jordan Donald, Pamela Cherebin, Porgie Cherebin, Sade Andre and Victor Ashby. Key creative credits also go to cinematographer Alex Wohlin, editor Angie Nicholas, animators Russell Steele and Durnis Markov, and composer Chris Tapper, who handled original score and sound design, with still photography contributed by Elijah Mogoli.
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