Rockers

"Rasta, what are you doing inside there?" "Hey Rasta, what the Babylon am I deal with? I and I control to the fullness." "Get out, mon!" "Remove ya!!!"

Such a great window into late 1970's Jamaica and the reggae scene, featuring many musicians playing themselves, such as Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs, and Robbie Shakespeare. The soundtrack and the patois alone make this highly engaging, but maybe more importantly, it also highlights the social consciousness of Rastafarianism. This often seems to be overlooked in reggae music, which can be dismissed as music to get high to, but its deepest concerns are in the struggles of the common man against the corruption of the wealthy, and the oppression of the "Babylon system" they live under.

We see that most obviously in the Robin Hood like story line in this film, which is a bit simple, but also in the lyrics of songs playing in the background, e.g. Junior Byles on Fade Away singing "the rich is getting richer every day, and the little that the poor man got, it shall be taken away, do you hear what I say?" or Gregory Isaacs on Slave Master singing "Every time I hear the music and I make a dip, a dip, slave master comes around and spank I with his whip, the whip." The solidarity with ending colonialism in African is also referred when producer Jack Ruby says they've just finished recording Free Rhodesia, which isn't heard here, but which the Black Disciples would release in real life.

One of the things that didn't work as well for me was the way the main character (Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace) treated his family (which was his real life family too, btw). He's trying to provide for them by using all of their money to buy a motorbike so he can get around to sell records and play the drums in live sessions, but he's almost never home, and when he is, he downplays his wife's concerns about having money for food and clothing for their small kids. He tells her not to worry, Jah (God or Haile Selassie) will provide, and that he need only teach them their culture. He tells her to shut up several times, and we see none of her viewpoint.

There is an interesting scene showing the tolerance of the faith when Horsemouth is confronted by his grandmother, a Christian who is celebrating baptisms in the river, and who asks the Lord to forgive his sins and for him to convert. Rather than argue or get angry with her, he simply accepts her, without backing down from his views. Here and in one or two other places, the fourth wall is broken, allowing a character to explain views of peace and brotherhood. Of course, when pushed by "the man," the film brews up some cathartic revenge, set to Peter Tosh's Stepping Razor, but it's not violent, and just involves a little redistribution of wealth. This is a film that feels deeply meaningful to culture, and it's one that works on several levels, despite its modest budget.

I-man loves this movie! A true classic! Everyt'ing from the music to the actors to the land of the JA makes this a must see. Much more intimate than "The Harder They Come" and not as dark. This is also a very funny movie. The "Stepping Razor" walking montage is classic hilarity! Get this film and keep it in your collection. Do not lend it out or you might not see it again, sight? Without taking away from the great directing Theodore Bafaloukos did, this movie almost makes itself! Show me a movie with realer characters and I'll argue you with you day and night, seen? The soundtrack is great! All kinds of reggae styles from a cross-section of artists...many of whom are in the film! Jah Guide, Protection Until Time, and Loveful Heights!

In this movie we have the thinnest thread of a plot. A young man makes a living as a drummer while he uses a newly-purchased motorbike to sell records to shops around Kingston.

Then his bike is stolen. And he steals it back. When the mafia types ("mafia" being the reggae patois for any gangster) catch up to his and beat him up he swears to get justice. And, with a little help from his friends, he does.

The big attraction here is the music, not the plot. The soundtrack includes Peter Tosh, Robbie Shakespeare, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs, Jacob Miler & Inner Circle, Bunny Wailer, Kiddus I and Leroy Wallace (who plays the protagonist). The DVD has seven extra audio tracks which are accompanied by stills from the production.

The DVD also has a nice essay on Rastafarian culture, as well as a glossary of the rasta patois.

A lot of fun. Buy it. Play it. The play it again.

Basically devoid of anything as utterly redundant as a plot, storyline or a script (bah!) we dive into everyday life of rastas, their music and challenges they face. Instead of setting out a story we muse the town hustling with drumming legend Horsemouth (almost everyone here plays themselves and several scenes even go as far as to break the fourth wall), as he borrows money, buy a bike, starts distributing CDs, gets robbed, recaptures his bike, gets beaten and finally enacts sweet Robin Hood-esque vengeance on the big boys responsible.

Accompanying by a crew of rasta's of worldwide fame, like Jacob Miller, Gregory Isaacs, Robbie Shakespeare and so forth he has Jah on his side and enough laid back love attitude to capture the hearts and minds of unsuspecting viewers. At times utterly hilarious, else just fascinating, even if half the time is spent on deciphering Jamaican patois (which is actually vastly enjoyable in itself) into something slightly recognisable. Features a classic scene, where Richard 'Dirty Harry' Hall occupies a DJ booth and then resists Babilon with true rastafari class.

Techincally astute with some beautiful shots, as well as some classy laid-back artistry. Essential watching as a world cinema cinematographic gem. Especially if you want to end up all gushy-gooey feel-good after viewing, sight?

One of my all time favorites! I've been looking for this one for a long long time. Having very strong documentary features, this film keeps surprising the viewer every minute. It is (at least for the first half an hour or so) as if someone just shouldered a camera and followed Horsemouth around Kingston doing his daily hustlin' business. Most of the the main characters are real people, playing themselves, esp. reggae artists and producers, and most of the locations are real as well. Later the plot turns into kind of a Robin Hood scenario, when the ghetto people strike back against the upper class mafia guys. What I like most about this movie is its many layers. It's like a deep insight into Jamaican society of the late 70's, the golden era of roots reggae, in all its many aspects like class struggle, Rastafari, family and religious issues. Several times, like in the opening scene or when Horsey gets punched by Sunshine's father, characters directly address the viewer personally by facing the camera which I've never seen used like this anywhere else. Technically it's remarkably well done (apart from some pretty dark underexposed moments), for instance they manage to have many songs of the soundtrack coming from actual sources in the picture.

In one word: Great stuff, not only if you're into old school dub and reggae. If you have it, treasure it! If you don't, get it and then treasure it.