Dhani is a street merchant in Trinidad, selling Doubles just the way his father used to do before he took off many years prior. It is coming up to Christmas and suddenly his father is home again. Although filled with resentment and impatience towards the old charmer, Dhani's mother convinces him that they must get him to sign over the house and land to them so at least make him welcome for a little while. When his father commits to sign over the property with the slightest hint, it appears he may have changed – or does he have another motive for his sudden return and generosity?
This short is a nicely contained little family drama which nicely blends the circumstances and feelings with the story to be a film that is not specifically one thing. We follow the story of the father's return home and as we learn more we find ourselves leaning towards one character and away from another, only for the same to sort of happen in the reverse shortly after. This "lean" is only ever a lean though, never a full turn and by doing it this way we are kept close to the subjects so we are never fully with one against the other. The telling is simple and it is helped by the sense of place and community, with the feel of the family (albeit fragmented and damaged) still coming through. The conclusion is downbeat but very nicely delivered and I felt it was a nice summation of the story as a whole.
As writer and director Harnarine has given a good script to his cast and his filming adds a nice feel for the place but never threatens to make this a travelogue. His cast work well and feel natural and convincing whether it is Boodhu's tired resentment or Sitahal's charm which also contains a certain amount of hurt and regret. Nobody overplays the emotion and, in underplaying it they only add to the natural feel. Overall Doubles is a nicely structured and delivered film which engages with a natural feel for the people and the place.
