Rockers

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Rockers is a 1978 Jamaican film by Theodoros Bafaloukos. Several popular reggae artists star in the movie, including Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, Burning Spear, Gregory Isaacs, Big Youth, Dillinger, and Jacob Miller.
Rockers was originally to be a documentary but blossomed into a full-length feature showing the reggae culture at its peak.
In this film, the culture, characters and mannerisms are authentic. The main rocker Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, for example, is shown living with his actual wife and kids and in his own home. The recording studios shown are the famous Harry J Studios where many roots reggae artists recorded during the 70s including Bob Marley. Samples of the film's dialogue were used in the early 1990s jungle track, "Babylon" by Splash, "Terrorist Dub" by Californian ragga-metal band Insolence, and in the track "Zion Youth" from the 1995 album Second Light by Dreadzone. The Jamaican Patois spoken throughout the film is rendered with English language subtitles for a foreign audience.

Only six years after The Harder They Come this movie has a different look at the dispossessed in Trenchtown and in the hills. A more political movie and something of a statement from the reggae movement's foundation. Prescribed viewing like 'The Harder They Come' only more upbeat.

Director: 
Theodoros Bafaloukos
Actor/s: 
Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace
Jacob Miller
Gregory Isaacs
Richard Hall
Robbie Shakespeare
Poster: 
Year Released: 
1978