Patrick James, Gleaner Writer

KMC Productions and Pragmatic Entertainment have turned in a respectable effort with Desperate Decisions.

The Paul Beale-directed romantic drama, thanks to its clever blend of bare bones reality and an engaging cast, makes for a well-assembled production.

It opens with the central character Patrick (Martin Clarke) preparing to go to the local bar (a central point in the film's rural scenes). The bar is the place where he forgets about his demanding landlord (Owen 'Blakka' Ellis ) and his near extortionist babymother. He interacts with his longtime friend Digo, who offers him help and counsel during turbulent times.

All seems to be well initially, as Patrick is seen rocking to the music. But, as the resident selector toasts the crowd, in walks his babymother, Rose, and the tension is thick. On the advice of his friends, Patrick steps outside to speak with her.

Contentious relationship

Patrick struggles to make money, doing farming and other odd jobs, but most of his earnings are used to feed his child and himself. He sometimes pays his rent, but has a contentious relationship with his landlord which culminates in his forced removal after non-payment.

After his eviction, Patrick then turns to Digo, who offers him a 'cotch' on the floor of the bedroom in the house he shares with his girlfriend. During his tribulations, Patrick meets Verona (Jessica Francis). Verona is between high school and university and, based on a discussion she had with an older sister, is introduced as somewhat indecisive.

The semi-playful tone and attitudes adopted by Verona during some of the film's earlier scenes are at odds with the serious approach she takes when informing her mother about being pregnant for Patrick later in Desperate Decisions. During many of the early scenes, Verona appears to be a stuck-up, uptown girl who is overprotected by parents who have already determined her life's path.

Upon noticing her change in behaviour, Verona is confronted first by her mother, who does not give her any specific advice but warns her to be careful. Her father, Hubert, played by Winston 'Bello' Bell, is far from accommodating. demanding Rose cut all ties with Patrick.

Complexities

He goes on to explain that Patrick has a child who Rose did not know about and is not supporting. Hubert, presents himself as a father who only wants to safeguard the interests of his daughter, for whom he foresees a bright future.

Some of the complexities in Patrick's life are not entirely his fault, as it is revealed in the film that Rose hands over money to the controlling and manipulative Michael, her real boyfriend, who commands her every move. This presents Rose as the total antithesis to the demanding babymother who she is to Patrick. The money she receives is really meant to take care of a child, who is further revealed does not exist.

Michael, upon learning that Patrick is becoming reluctant to pay up, decides to add more intensity to the mix. When Patrick and Michael meet, a fight ensues between the two, which results in Michael's death, causing Patrick to flee the district and head for Kingston with little prospects and is even worse off than he was at the district.

It is a prostitute who takes him in and befriends him before any semblance of order takes place within his life. In Kingston, he starts out doing odd jobs before getting a position as a car salesman. His life takes a true turn for the better when he opens a studio and repays Digo with a permanent position there for his previous good deeds. The value of the friendship is seen whereby Patrick also pays the full cost for Digo's girlfriend's cancer surgery. When Patrick offers advice to Digo, however, he does not accept it and this results in his untimely demise.

Transition

Verona is unsure of where she stands with Patrick. While she remains committed, she is presented as having doubts. To make matters more complex, at university, Shaun enters the scene. He is presented as an almost polar opposite character to Patrick. He is refined, highly learned and has a silvery tongue.

Bell is suitably stern and convincing and Rosemarie Murray, playing Verona's mother, is believable in her transition from submissive wife to independent thinker. The cameo appearances by reggae artistes Mr Perfect and Nanko in the studio scene gave additional entertainment. Visual flourishes are used in the fighting scenes.

Despite the good offerings, the film's downfalls are event gaps which seem unrealistic, as the thea-tregoer does not learn how Michael learns about his 'jacket' and some of the transitions between Michael's struggle's and success seem too good to be true, as well as disjointed.

Beale has proven through Desperate Decisions that Jamaican films can teach valuable life lessons and pluck the heartstrings and need not be overly violent or sexual.

Comedic purists will be more than satisfied, but with all things consi-dered, more can be expected from KMC Productions and Pragmatic Entertainment. As it stands, Beale does an adequate enough job in both his writing and direction to make the film a good product.