Delroy Lindo Directs Jamaican Family Drama

Delroy Lindo's directorial debut, "Jabari's People," a Jamaican-set family drama, has concluded its 22-day production in Kingston, Jamaica. The film, featuring Winston Duke, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Wendell Pierce, and newcomer Seyi Andes-Pelumi alongside Lindo, tells the story of Jabari, a defiant Brooklyn teenager. Following his mother's sudden death, Jabari is sent to live with his estranged grandparents. What begins as an exile evolves into an unexpected exploration of grief, family, identity, and inheritance.

The intergenerational narrative unfolds between Brooklyn and Jamaica's Blue Mountains. Andes-Pelumi portrays the resistant teen, Duke plays his father, Jean-Baptiste is the grandmother, and Lindo takes on the role of the grandfather. Pierce appears as a doctor within the family's New York community. Lindo, who optioned the script in 2021, aimed to direct from the outset, drawing inspiration from his own Jamaican heritage.

Lindo reflects on the profound experience of directing, especially while acting in the film. He notes the adjustment required to shift from private acting preparation to engaging actively with the technical aspects of filmmaking on set. He hopes "Jabari's People" will honor Jamaica and reveal its spiritual dimensions to audiences. The film is produced by Lindo's Mudtop Productions, alongside Robert A. Maylor, Lena Cordina, and Natalie Thompson, with IAG handling distribution rights.