In my youth, I listened sometimes to the best reggae artists, seeing some of them in concerts and these Jamaican people are really magic : a blend of freedom, toughness, rebellion, happiness. And they are so funny to see : enjoy Jacob Miller's meal, the "Stepping Razor" walk, Dirty Harry in a nightclub, Gregory Isaacs in a party... They are really unique people and far more better than actors, they are exceptional characters playing nearly themselves.

And the best is Leroy Horsemouth (in real life drummer of Burning Spear,Bunny Wailer, Max Roméo, ...),the drummer selling reggae records from shop to shop with his bike that is stolen. The drummer's revenge is to come. In fact, it is the story of "Bicycles Thieves" and "Robin Hood". But it is so vibrating. The music is strong and don't miss the 70's clothes.

If you want to see a rebel musical movie, with actors nearly playing themselves, "Rockers" is really different, as it is brilliantly directed and written in the real Rasta settings by unknown Greek director Ted Bafaloukos (who also directed some video for the Talking Heads and Chris Isaacs). Rockers is a movie I saw many times, discovering it to friends, and it's always a funny pleasure to see it again and again and again.

Reggae was a well established part of popular culture in the late 1970s, so it only made sense that there would be a movie focusing on Jamaica. Ted Bafaloukos's "Rockers" focuses on a drummer whose motorcycle gets stolen. It's sort of "The Bicycle Thief" meets Robin Hood.

The characters break the fourth wall in a few scenes, and most of the dialogue is subtitled due to the thick accents. Basically, this is the textbook definition of true-to-life. Apparently, Bafaloukos (originally from Greece) first went to Jamaica in 1975 as a freelance photographer for Island Records, and the Jamaicans mistook him for a CIA agent. Whatever the case, he turned out one impressive movie. This one, "The Harder They Come" and "Land of Look Behind" (about Bob Marley's funeral) are the trio of great movies about Jamaica.

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?