During the 1970s and 80s, the nascent Jamaican movie industry created a trio of films that have become cult favorites. The most famous, Perry Henzell's The Harder They Come (1973), is an unforgettable, unvarnished snapshot of life in Jamaica; Dickie Jobson's surreal Countryman (1984) is a mystic work steeped in Rastafarian culture; and Theodorous Bafaloukos' Rockers (1977) is a charismatic tale of violence and revenge set within Jamaica's reggae music scene. Out of the three, Rockers is perhaps the most enjoyable to watch, with crisp, colorful cinematography and a vibrant soundtrack. Featuring boisterous dialogue, a terrific cast, and a wonderful story, Rockers is simply a treat to watch.
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1977 was a time when some of the most potent and brilliant reggae was being produced. As a visual counterpart to that scene, Rockers positively sparkles. However, you don't have to be a reggae cognoscenti to understand the action; as with Harder They Come, Rockers is a film that will intrigue non-reggae fans as well. It's very much influenced by New Wave and cinema-verite sensibilities. The plot of the film is very loose, and the acting and dialogue have a natural, improvised feel. Director Bafaloukos shoots the entire movie in long takes, as if he's merely observing the action rather than controlling it. Other New Wave touches include a monologue by Leroy spoken to the camera, night scenes shot where you can't even tell who's who as the action unfolds, and -- of course -- absolutely everything is shot on location. Throughout the film, scenes and action occur which do nothing for the plot but add greatly to the mood and character of the film, such as when Leroy rides his motorcycle into the middle of a soccer game and is rebuked by the players; after making his escape from the hostile team, the story continues as if what we've just seen wasn't supposed to happen. Finally, reminiscent of films like 400 Blows or French Connection, the film concludes without any kind of grand finale or thought of closure; it simply ends.
