HERO…what can I say about it?! There’s too much to put in this review. The celebration of the unsung hero, Ulric Cross left me feeling many emotions…overwhelmed, transported back to the past (to my childhood and all the stories I’ve heard about these stalwarts of history), excited about the future and what I can contribute to history in my capacity today!

HERO: Inspired by the Extraordinary Life and Times of Mr. Ulric Cross sets out to document the journey of a young man from Trinidad named Ulric Cross who leaves his island home in 1941 in search of his fortune. He emerges from World War II (after 89 missions over Germany with no rest) as the most decorated West Indian of the Royal Air Force (RAF).

Cross’s long life spanned key moments of the 20th century, including independence in Africa and the Caribbean. Shot in Ghana, the United Kingdom, and Trinidad and Tobago, the film is not just about his life but also the transformative times in which he lived, rubbing shoulders with the likes of CLR James, author of Minty Alley and The Black Jacobins; George Padmore, born Malcolm Ivan Meredith Nurse in Trinidad, who was a leading Pan-Africanist, journalist, and author; Kwami Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, having led the Gold Coast to independence from Britain in 1957.

HERO tells the untold story of all connected Caribbean professionals who helped to liberate Africa from colonialism. It shows Cross as an unrelenting individual in his quest to be a better man, educator and supporter of the Pan-African movement.

Cross died at age 96 on October 04, 2013, at his home in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Among the awards he’s received over a lifetime are Order of Valour, Federal Republic of Cameroon; the Chaconia Gold Medal, Trinidad & Tobago, 1983; Honorary Doctorate of Law, University of the West Indies, 1993; Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, 2011.

The production of this movie was a mix of footage from old reels spanning back from the 1940s to present day, with scored music like Old Lady, Walk A Mile by Trinidad’s very own – the late Lord Kitchener.

And you may remember UK star Joseph Marcell, you know him as Jeffrey from Fresh Prince of Bel Air?! Yes, he played the role of CLR James.

This film is a must-see, especially because it recaps such important happenings at a pivotal time in world history. A very refreshing historical piece! If you missed NYAFF this past weekend, follow to see where it goes next.

By Mellany P | on June 04, 2019