MOJO Magazine - 4 stars

 

Jamaica is a land of dramatic contrasts, the gap between rich and poor, rural and urban, Christian and Rasta, forming wide chasms of antipathy. Such differences are revealed in this touching documentary, which explores the lifestyle of an aspiring group of sympathetic dreads in the remote Nonsuch hills. As the dreads are not concerned with fame, seeing reggae as a means to spread serious messages, they are named The Disappointers, for as singer Johnnie Walker explains, even

a disappointment can yield something positive.

 

Most of the film shows the group living close to nature, their roots music an honest reflection of their relationship with the soil, while stunning images heighten the startling beauty of the Jamaican countryside, the overriding element that inspires their philosophy.

 

David Katz

 

 

 

RIDDIM Magazine - Germany ( excerpts )

 

The touching film Reggae In The Ruff, is a non-standard documentary, based in the remote Nonsuch hills, just a few miles outside of the town of Port Antonio on Jamaica’s east coast, yet worlds away in terms its way of life. 

 

The elder dreads on which this film is based have a harmony group, led by a certain Johnny Walker—who is a mighty charismatic chap, despite missing a number of his teeth.

 

Because of its non-standard format, Reggae In The Ruff is one of those films in which nothing much concrete actually happens. But I do not want to suggest that the film is boring, because the converse is really true; we are quickly sucked into the tale of these lovable bunch of folks, especially as the film begins with a dream, so we want to see what happens next, as they gradually reveal their concrete mission, which sees them eventually reaching the Axx of Jahpostles studio.  And I don’t want to give the impression that the film is only taken up with crusty old dreads, because the group have a ragamuffin toaster from the younger generation as well, who is the son of another group member. Their Rastafari faith is really only spoken of in passing, as a given, rather than through any kind of self-righteous sermonising. 

 

One of the other things I loved about this film is that it has been beautifully shot. In an era when the typical feature film set in Jamaica will inevitably have a high body count and involve druglords and possibly prostitution, it is refreshing to see true images of Jamaica that remind just how stunningly beautiful its countryside is, as well as the resilience of her people, and the uniqueness of their points of view.  I am hoping that we will see more films like Reggae In The Ruff coming out of Jamaica in the future, to heighten some of the island’s most appealing features.

 

David Katz