THE SWEETEST GIRL: A Forbidden Love Story 5 Questions for Filmmaker: Yanatha Desouvre

Originally Posted December 13, 2020

Samuel Ladouceur – Director
Harry J. Jeudy – Co-Screenwriter /Executive Producer
Yanatha Desouvre – Co-Screenwriter/Producer

Inspired by true events, The Sweetest Girl: A Forbidden Loves Story is a compelling and provocative love story, set in Haiti, haunted by human trafficking and gun violence.

Lucias Goodman (Genji Jacques), a brilliant, seasoned, yet tormented law enforcement officer, has his life thrown into disarray when his loving wife, prominent and controversial journalist Margaret Goodman (Sandra Justice), is shot in broad daylight and ends up in the intensive care unit. Overwhelmed with guilt, while his wife is in a coma, Lucias is compelled to confess his most heart shattering secret. While Lucias proceeds to clear his conscience, the underlying threat that simmered in their marriage for decades begins to boil over to the point of no return. Lucias struggles to make peace with his past, which has life changing consequences in his present day.

Yanatha Desouvre Intro…

5 Questions for Yanatha Desouvre

T&T: In a nutshell what was the main inspiration for The Sweetest Girl and/or the theme that is the heart of your film?

Yanatha Desouvre: Tinsel & Tine thank you for giving me an opportunity to talk about our film. In a nutshell, The Sweetest Girl: A Forbidden Love Story (inspired by true events) is a compelling and provocative love story, set in Haiti, haunted by human trafficking and gun violence. It’s about a loving marriage of 25 years that comes to a deadly end when a husband is compelled to tell his wife, his most heart shattering secret, on her death. One of the main inspirations for The Sweetest Girl was the tragic death of my aunt in the late 90’s. She was a victim of gun violence. Our leading male character, formidable yet tormented Haitian police officer, Lucias Goodman, played by Genji Jacques, the man dubbed the “Haitian Denzel” is haunted by his past, and that past has come to haunt his present day. The themes and the heart of the film are; even though love is a powerful force, secrets can deadly.

T&T: Tell us a bit about the music of your film?

YD: International songstress, Ley Joans, contributed her upbeat song “No Games”, which is about relationships, lines up well with our lead female character, the truth-seeking, award-winning AP Haitian journalist, Margaret Goodman, who is played by the talented Sandra Justice, is playing ‘no games’ with her work as journalist, her commitment to the community and her marriage. Something has been simmering for quite a while in her marriage, has caused some tension and things are about to boil over.

Then there is, the international Emmy Nominated impact artist, Alexander Star. His heartfelt song “Benefits of Love” is another important song that plays a critical role in the spirit of our characters.

T&T: Was there a point where you almost didn’t finish The Sweetest Girl? And if so, what pushed you forward?

YD: Pre-production was fierce, as we shot our film in the middle of the pandemic in the hot zone of Miami, Florida. We took every measurable step to keep our cast and crew safe, yet it was very stressful at times; but we kept thinking about this generation and the next for whom we did this film – because representation matters. We didn’t give up and kept pushing forward until our Director, Samuel Ladouceur said his last, “Cut.”

YD cont: Thankfully, we made it to post-production. We are 89% towards our post production goal. Join our post production campaign here. The film features a 100 % Black cast and hired a 100% black crew on a SAG signatory production.

T&T: Give a quick shout out to your creative team and anyone who helped get The Sweetest Girl from an idea to the screen.

YD: Shout to my brother Harry J. Jeudy, (Co-screenwriter and Executive Producer) and Samuel Ladouceur (Director) we are all grateful for the cast and crew who, with their awesome contribution, The Sweetest Girl would not be brought to life:

Crew
- Rachel Finley – Cast Director – her eyes for talent is amazing
- W. Griffin – Still Photographer/Cinematographer
- Dominic Smith – Director of Cinematography
- Jhonne Marc– Assistant Director
- Amy “Cierra” Desouvre – Production Manager
- Joelle McNeil – Production Assistant – Camera Operator
- Jonathan Daniels – Production Assistant – Light Technician
- David Gregorio – Sound Technician
- Milher Demesmin – Composer – Music Supervisor
- Ty Martine – Hair Stylist
- Prisca Milliance – Costume Designer
- Patricia Desamours – Make-up Artist
- Alon Payenson – Doctor on Site
- Karla Vital – Nurse on Site
- Adeline Farge – Nurse on Site
- Ingrid White – Admin
- Carline Clerge Leger – Owner of Well-Care Integrative Medicine
- Chef Yole – Caterer
- Smith – owner of Caribbean Choice
Cast
- Genji Jacques – man dubbed as the “Haitian Denzel” – Lucias Goodman
- Sandra Justice – Margaret Goodman
- Phoenix – Grayson Goodman
- Reanna Ameline – April Goodman
- Ayomi Russell – April Andrelie
- Marie Michelle – Desrosiers
- Lela Elam – Sheila Goodman
- Vivian Saintvil – Dr. Jeantel
- Briana Earhart – Nurse Farah
- James Pierre – Jean Luc Donsalvo

T&T: Name 5 of your favorite films, which influenced your desire to be a filmmaker?

Yanatha Desouvre:

Godfather 1 – Complex Family Relationships
Do The Right – Complex Community Relationships
Love Jones – The soul and depth of the characters
Black Panther – The importance of one’s tribe
Creed – Everyone has value

Social Media Handles
- Fb @ https://www.facebook.com/thesweetestgirlshortfilm
- Ig@goodmanchronicles
- ig@ sweetestgirlshortfilm/
- twitter @yanatha

Website: https://www.yanatha.com/

POST UPDATE 2.14.2021

Check Out The Sweetest Girl’s

OSCAR QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN

Thank you Yanatha Desouvre for today’s private virtual screening of your short film The Sweetest Girl: A Forbidden Love…
Posted by Tinsel & Tine on Sunday, February 14, 2021