‘Ottey Sisters’: Jamaican filmmaker revisits tragedy that shocked Toronto, impacted his life
Ottey Sisters, a movie about a horrific crime in Toronto, Canada 31 years ago, was released on May 29. It is directed, written and stars Dwight Benjamin, a Jamaican familiar with that incident.
The one hour, 50-minute movie is released through Theater Giant, an American pay-per-view company. It recalls the August 1995 murders of sisters Marsha and Tami Ottey by Rohan Ranger, Marsha’s ex-boyfriend; and his cousin Adrian Kinkead.
Benjamin, a Los Angeles-based film-maker, was dating Tami at that time. He plays himself in Ottey Sisters, alongside Tamara Gilmore, who has the role of Tami.
The Clarendon-born, Toronto-raised Benjamin told Observer Online that the movie is deeply personal for him.
“I started dating Tami at 14 years of age, we were both young. Her mother was a single mom but became like a mom to me as well. Ms Ottey would cook for us when I went to their house, watch movies, take us to Tami’s soccer games; it was a great relationship,” he said.
Marsha, 19, was three years older than Tami. Both were born in Canada to Jamaican parents.
She was about to take up a track scholarship at the University of Arkansas when Ranger, whom she had spurned, went to the Ottey home and killed her and Tami, a promising football player.
The bodies were discovered by their mother Avis, who went home early to help Marsha pack for her trip to Arkansas.
Dwight Benjamin and Tamara Gilmore in a scene from the movie, ‘Ottey Sisters’.
Benjamin put up the US$150,000 to make Ottey Sisters, with production taking place in Los Angeles over five years.
“It was difficult to relive that era, that entire time shaped my adulthood. That trauma was real and this movie process helped with dealing with it,” he said.
Ranger and Kinkead were found guilty for the murders. Ranger was granted parole in 2022, after serving 24 years in prison. Kinkead, who was sentenced in 1999, is still incarcerated.
Now in his mid-40s, Benjamin was formally trained in directing, screenplay writing and film production at the Theater of Arts Hollywood in Los Angeles. Ottey Sisters, his first major project, has the blessing of Avis Ottey, with whom he remains close.
“Ms Ottey is like a mom to me. We talk very often on the phone, we talk about the past, cry together, vent our frustrations on the crimes, and are there for each other after such a long time,” he said.
