‘Saint Lucia: The Wild Side’ Premieres as Labour of Love for Filmmakers

Darnel Kendal John and Lyndon John’s new documentary, Saint Lucia: The Wild Side, promises to take audiences on a journey through the breathtaking landscapes that serve as a sanctuary for some of the world’s rarest creatures. The feature-length film shines a spotlight on the wildlife that helps sustain Saint Lucia’s delicate ecosystems.

Darnel Kendal John, director of the 2016 documentary Who Are You?, told St Lucia Times his latest project is meant to educate. He and his brother, co-writer and co-producer Lyndon, saw the film as an important step toward fostering a greater appreciation for Saint Lucia’s wildlife—and highlighting the need for its preservation.

“We have a number of species right here in Saint Lucia that aren’t found anywhere else in the world. Nowhere else in the world! And so, we have to appreciate what we have,” said John. “The way we appreciate that is by learning. You can’t love something that you don’t know. So this is the first step—educating Saint Lucians and the wider world about what Saint Lucia has when it comes to wildlife and biodiversity.”

John describes the process of making the film as a labour of love. While the project took the sibling duo over three years to produce, he says the idea is nearly two decades old. 

“The first email between my brother and I to make the film was 19 years ago—one, nine!” John shared. “The actual making of the film took us three and a half years. So, it’s a lesson in tenacity and perseverance and it’s really a labour of love.”

Saint Lucia: The Wild Side offers a rare, first-hand look at the island’s diverse wildlife, even spotlighting species that thrive far away from human habitation. The documentary also highlights endangered animals, the threats they face, and the need for their protection.

Despite the challenges of making a film of this scale, John believes its significance outweighs the effort. “We had to trek deep into the forests, hiking four hours in and four hours out. And I’m not just talking about walking—we were climbing, hands in the mud, and rappelling down,” he said, describing the physically demanding process.

As for fundraising for the project, John said, “I would like to tip my hat to Giles Romulus, a representative of the GEF Small Grants Programme under the UNDP, who was the first to come on board and say, ‘Yes, we believe in this project’.”

Romulus’ support helped to trigger additional waves of support from the NRDF, the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Forestry Department, Silhouette, and St Lucia Distillers—the first corporate entity to offer funding. Additional backing came from Massy Stores, St Lucia Electricity Services Limited, Saint Lucia Development Bank, and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. 

The Independent Film Company, founded and run by Dale Elliott, was also a contributor. “I think it was a great collaboration, and I’m grateful for his patience over the three and a half years it took to achieve the final result we envisioned,” John said.

Saint Lucia: The Wild Side premiered on Thursday, March 6, at Caribbean Cinemas in Castries, and John says additional weekend screenings are in the works. Like his previous documentary, Who You Are?, which explored Saint Lucian heritage, his newest project is slated to reach audiences worldwide.

The film was screened just three days after the island marked World Wildlife Day with an educational exhibition that sought to raise awareness of the island’s rich biodiversity and the importance of conservation.