MVD Rewind Collection: Rockers (1978) - Reviewed

Images courtesy of MVD Rewind Collection

Greek music-video director Theodoros Bafaloukos who later became the recurring production designer for Errol Morris made his debut feature film as a writer-director with the 1978 Jamaican reggae-infused musical docu-dramedy Rockers.  A scrappy yet culturally rich film which like Wild Style or Purple Rain captured the vibe of a particular pop-cultural musical moment in microcosm while otherwise being a somewhat weak piece of storytelling, Rockers is best remembered for its uncut Rastafarian dialect, Jamaican aesthetic lifestyle and fashion and a sneaky murderer’s row of hot reggae artists.  

Intended as a documentary that developed into a kind of slice-of-life Linklater-esque promenade through reggae culture including showing off the famous Harry J Studios and Channel One Studios where Bob Marley did many of his recordings, the low budget film made around JA$500,000 (roughly $40K) became something of a reggae touchstone.  Less about plot and more of a reggae revue, the film makes its long awaited 4K disc debut via MVD Rewind Collection’s Laservision line and while it doesn’t really work as a narrative the function it serves as a Jamaican hangout epic is undeniable.
 
Within Kingston’s music scene roams reggae drummer and part-time record shipment deliverer Horsemouth (Leroy Wallace as himself) on his new orange-red 175 motorbike.  Operating on a loan with the intention of paying it off via record deliveries, he makes pit stops to bodegas, clubs and dance parties throughout the island eventually landing with singer Jacob Miller at the legendary Channel One Studios.  Dealing with his beleaguered wife at home (Horsemouth’s real wife and house in the movie), he accepts an offer to drum with Miller at a tourist resort gig where he meets the manager’s daughter Sunshine (Marjorie Norman) whom he soon becomes infatuated with.  Unbeknownst to Horsemouth, Sunshine’s father is Mr. Marshall (Martin Williams) the head of a local crime syndicate who doesn’t take to his daughter’s mingling with Horsemouth so he sends his henchman to steal his motorcycle.  Taking on a Bicycle Thieves hunt for the bike, Sunshine winds up helping Horsemouth and crew do more than take just his bike back.

 
Featuring performances and music from Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Jacob Miller, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs and more, Rockers is a smorgasbord of Jamaican reggae culture and lifestyle all the way through the impoverished up to the wealthy and luxurious.  A wild, somewhat uneven tapestry of the vinyl record music scene, a bit of a riff on the Robin Hood story of robbing from the rich and giving back to the poor, most of the cast members here are playing themselves and are seen in their own domains as well.  At once kaleidoscopic and episodic, moving with Horsemouth throughout Kingston’s scene aspects of the freeform narrative and anarchic attitude of the piece remind of later Linklater works such as Dazed and Confused or later still PTA’s Licorice Pizza while still ultimately being a kind of A Hard Day’s Night music movie.  

While featuring a sizable cast, Horsemouth guides us through every moment of it and at one point breaks the fourth wall speaking directly to the audience.  Though the Rastafarian dialogue merits the need for subtitles which even then can be a bit tough to follow, the energy, sense of community and rich soundtrack kind of fuels the authenticity of the film.  Movies can only understand an entire culture and populace so much within its running time and Rockers is just enough of a smattering of reggae Kingston, Jamaica to get the uninitiated interested as well as a cause for celebration for longtime fans of the music. 

 
Released theatrically in 1978, critical reception of the piece was unanimously positive with the soundtrack album in 1979 becoming a sizable hit before Rolling Stone magazine would later name it the 52^nd Greatest Soundtrack of All Time in 2024.  Most reviews would warn the viewer to just enjoy the atmosphere and aura and try not to think too deeply about the plotline which can be traced to other 1960s pop music dramedies.  While as a film it is not nearly as compelling or engaging as the birth of hip-hop film Wild Style or the funky rock and roll drama of Purple Rain, Rockers nevertheless captures the essence of the Rastafarian culture and music scene featuring a cavalcade of many of its best performers.  

Years later, some of the musicians featured onscreen would perform live shows in Brazil to commemorate the film’s 40^th anniversary and an Italian music video tribute to the film prominently featured its hero Horsemouth in it.  Coming to Laservision 4K via MVD’s Rewind Collection, the new limited edition set comes with a feature length documentary about the making of the film as well as archival featurettes and music videos, reversible sleeve art and a mini poster.  While following the dialogue again will present a challenge to some viewers, just rolling with the soul of Kingston’s reggae music scene should suit you fine in this timeless testament to the beating heart of 1970s Jamaica.

--Andrew Kotwicki