OF COD & RUM: THE NEWFOUNDLAND CONNECTION

To most people, Newfoundland and Jamaica couldn’t be further apart. One is a rugged northern outpost of rock and ice; the other, a tropical island radiating heat. But dig a little deeper and surprising tie emerge, big personalities, colonial histories, music, and language with a rhythm all their own, and above all, codfish and rum.

At the heart of this film is Al St. Louis, a Canadian actor and spoken-word artist with roots in Grenada. Al grew up in Toronto on ackee and salted cod, the staple “salt-fish” of Jamaican kitchens. So Jamaican is his spirit and cultural identity that many assume he was born and raised on the island. Yet, despite dreaming of Kingston, Montego Bay, and the lush mountains of “Jam-Rock,” Al has never set foot in Jamaica. Nor has he visited Newfoundland, his wife’s ancestral home.

That changes when Al is invited to perform in St. John’s, Newfoundland. The performance opens the door to a deeper exploration. Intrigued by the island, he decides to stay on, delving into its history, culture, and, most of all, its relationship with salt cod. His journey takes him across “The Rock,” where he meets artists, academics, and fishermen, gets “Screeched-in” as an honorary Newfoundlander, and uncovers how cod helped shape both the economy and identity of the island.

By the end of his Newfoundland discoveries, another opportunity emerges: a performance in Jamaica. There, Al continues his quest, tracing the southward journey of cod and the northward flow of rum. In Kingston, he connects with everyday people, including a Rastafarian cook who prepares ackee and saltfish, and learns about the island’s rich rum history and its deep cultural significance.  Through these encounters, Al discovers how cod and rum, products of empire and commerce, became cornerstones of cultural pride, survival, and tradition in both Newfoundland and Jamaica.

OF COD & RUM is a light-hearted yet revealing exploration, blending history, food, music, and personal discovery. Bookended by performances in St. John’s and Kingston, the film follows Al’s journey as he connects with ordinary people whose lives are shaped by extraordinary cultural legacies. In the end, it reveals how “The Rock” and “Jam-Rock,” though oceans apart, are bound together by shared histories, resilient identities, and the enduring tastes of cod and rum.