The Keeper centers around a man named Paul Lamont (Giancarlo Esposito) who is half Haitian, yet he despises that part of his lineage. He's a jailer studying to become an attorney. When he looks into the file of a Haitian inmate, Jean Baptiste (Isaach De Bankole), he deduces that Jean is innocent. He posted Jean's bail and, much to the consternation of his wife, Angela (Regina Taylor), he allows Jean to stay with him.
Eventually, Angela takes a liking to Jean and they become friends. It's obvious that this bothers Paul, but why is the question.
It's easy to say that Paul is bothered because he's jealous, as any man would be of his wife spending quality time with another man. But the movie hints at a deeper reason: that being that Jean is a Haitian who's getting along so famously with his wife. The unresolved disdain Paul has for his Haitian father seems to be what plagues him to the very end when he shoots Jean Baptiste. Again, was he shooting a man for making moves on his wife, or did he see his hated father in Jean Baptiste?
Along with the drama between Paul, his wife, and Jean was the depiction of Black men and women wearing blue. In other words, Blacks in the role of law enforcement. Just like the 2019 movie "Black and Blue," this movie attempts to show that once Black folks don the uniform their allegiances switch as well. They are no longer Black, they are Blue. We see that in "The Keeper" with Ron Baker (O.L. Duke) and doubly with Clarence Ross (Ron Brice). Clarence was a self-hating Black man who'd much rather exterminate Blacks than help them, yet he disguises it as a passionate dislike of crime.
I rather enjoyed this low budget, but thoughtful piece. Giancarlo Esposito came with it. He put maximum effort into the role, and it showed. He's a brilliant actor who I think is only now starting to get the recognition he deserves.
Eventually, Angela takes a liking to Jean and they become friends. It's obvious that this bothers Paul, but why is the question.
It's easy to say that Paul is bothered because he's jealous, as any man would be of his wife spending quality time with another man. But the movie hints at a deeper reason: that being that Jean is a Haitian who's getting along so famously with his wife. The unresolved disdain Paul has for his Haitian father seems to be what plagues him to the very end when he shoots Jean Baptiste. Again, was he shooting a man for making moves on his wife, or did he see his hated father in Jean Baptiste?
Along with the drama between Paul, his wife, and Jean was the depiction of Black men and women wearing blue. In other words, Blacks in the role of law enforcement. Just like the 2019 movie "Black and Blue," this movie attempts to show that once Black folks don the uniform their allegiances switch as well. They are no longer Black, they are Blue. We see that in "The Keeper" with Ron Baker (O.L. Duke) and doubly with Clarence Ross (Ron Brice). Clarence was a self-hating Black man who'd much rather exterminate Blacks than help them, yet he disguises it as a passionate dislike of crime.
I rather enjoyed this low budget, but thoughtful piece. Giancarlo Esposito came with it. He put maximum effort into the role, and it showed. He's a brilliant actor who I think is only now starting to get the recognition he deserves.
