The real spirit of reggae?
This exploration of reggae was obviously made by someone who is passionate about the music. French director Jérôme Laperrousaz has had a 25-year love affair with Jamaica, and he wants to share this with the world. The approach he has taken with this documentary, however, means he is unlikely to produce many converts.
The film is basically a collection of performances by a diverse range of artists, with some interview footage in between. Anyone interested in the contemporary scene will see a smorgasbord of delights before them. However, with no narration, archive footage or historical context, the true significance of watching legends like Toots Hibbert and Bunny Wailer will be lost on viewers with little knowledge of the genre.
What is particularly odd is the way in which the performances have been shot. Whether in the recording studio, on the street, in a club or (quite hilariously) walking on a beach, every one has been choreographed with extras and multiple takes. This makes the whole thing seem like a series of music videos, and not particularly interesting ones.
The lack of context means the audience has to take the music at face value, and it really is a mixed bag. The links between the furious and violently-sexual dancehall music of today and the laid-back (though often just as angry) roots reggae of the older featured artists is not readily apparent, and they sit uneasily side by side.
All-too-brief interviews with the musicians provide the best moments in the film (dancehall star Lady Saw is an especially fascinating character and could carry a whole film by herself). Issues such as gun violence, mysoginistic lyrics, the role of the Rastafari movement in music and the legacy of slavery are brought up, but never examined in depth.
Throughout the film, the pride that Jamaicans feel for their music shines through. A more conventional documentary approach could have shown why.
Made in Jamaica is at the ICA from 23rd October to 5th November
Other screenings:
Rio Dalston One night Only Oct 24
ICA Q&A with director Oct 25
Thank you!! At last I get to read some decent views about that “documentary” which got released in France over 2 years ago and pushed by a huge promo campaign about how wonderful and truthfull it was supposed to be… I was just disappointed and angry when I left the cinema after watching it.