Rose Villela
I would like our class to answer the second Guava Island discussion question because although I have seen the film a few times, I have not critically analyzed it.
Guava Island is bookended by bold, colorful animations giving the viewer that story tale excitement and wonder. I believe this is put here because the cartoons instill the child-like feelings of innocence, hope, and goodness. With these feelings stirred in the audience, Donald Glover juxtaposes this hope and innocence with the plotlines of corruption, capitalism, and murder. This forces the audience members to experience a loss of innocence, like growing up and realizing how scary and horrible the “real world” is. However, the film did end on a good note, Kofi changing the narrative for the next generation. Further, the magic of the film is not only in the animations but also in the colors, songs, clothing, and the people of Guava Island. This can be seen through Deni’s performance of “Summertime Magic”, my personal favorite part of the film. This song is celebrating Kofi and her greatness. Deni serenade Kofi with steel drums on the beach, further, Rihanna is Guyanese so this also a nod to her culture, serving as a celebration of both Rihanna and Kofi.
Discussion Questions
1.) Why do you think Guava Island was not covered in the media? Even among Donald Glover fans, this film is not commonly known, why?
2.) Which song (“This is America”, “Summertime Magic”, and “Feels Like Summer”) was most impactful in the film?