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Jimmy Cliff in a scene from the movie 'The Harder They Come'.

"Well, they tell me of a pie up in the sky, waiting for me when I die, but between the day you're born and when you die, you know, they never seem to hear even your cry. So as sure as the sun will shine, I'm gonna get my share now what is mine, and then the harder they come, the harder they fall, one and all. The harder they come, the harder they fall, one nd all." - By Jimmy Cliff

The Harder They Come debuted at the Carib Cinema in 1972 as the first Jamaican-made feature film. Perry Henzell, the director, producer and co-writer (with Trevor Rhone) of the film went on to write, direct , and produce No Place Like Home (2006), which premiered in Jamaica on December 1, 2006 - the day after Henzell passed away.

In tribute to Perry Henzell, we give you reviews of Jamaican movies, starting with what Bruce considers the best.

From the elegant opening, as the naïve, aspiring musician, Ivanhoe 'Ivan' Martin (based on the real-life exploits of the criminal-folk-hero, Rhygin, and played by Jimmy Cliff) makes his transition from country to town - seeking a better future - to the bullet-riddled fade out on Lime Cay's beach, The Harder They Come is an uncompromising look at how the system that prevails in our society can corrupt and pervert the hopes and dreams of our people.

Over three decades have passed, but the themes Henzell has illustrated are still relevant today: the possibility of real, fundamental change for the poor-people of Jamaica - or any other Third World country, or any poor people anywhere - is still just a pretty illusion, not unlike the flickering images on a movie screen.

The Harder They Come is also a powerful testament to the determination of its filmmakers to excel in spite of (or perhaps because of) the budgetary constraints. It should be required viewing for any emerging Jamaican filmmaker.

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the premiere of The Harder They Come and if I had any say in it this movie it would be back at Carib before the year expires. If anyone cares, there's still time.

The Lunatic - 'Racy, irreverent'

Based on the novel by Anthony C. Winkler (who also wrote the script), The Lunatic (1991) is the simple story of the poor village madman named Aloysious Idiomatic Gossamer Impracticable Longshoreman Technocracy Predominate Involuted Enraptured Parliamentarian Patriarch Verdure Emulative Perihelion Dichotomy Intellectual Chaste Iron-Curtain Linkage Colonialistic Dilapidated O-Isopropoxyphenyl Photosynthesis Hobson (played by Paul Campbell), who has the ability to communicate with trees, bushes, cows, goats, dogs, even cricket balls; who falls in love with a white German tourist, Inga Schmidt (Julie T. Wallace), a photographer of flora and fauna, and a nymphomaniac; and gets coerced by Inga - she threatens to withhold sexual favours - and a local butcher, Service Johnson (Carl Bradshaw) - who also samples Inga's fruits - into participating in a burglary.

Directed by Lol Créme, The Lunatic is racy, irreverent, touching, and hilarious, and always authentic in its depiction of the many hues and tones of Jamaica. And as the credits roll, consider: Who are the real lunatics in Jamaica?

Rockers Reggae music stars

What do Italian neo-realist film director Vittorio De Sica, public onanist Pee-Wee Herman and reggae drummer Leroy 'Horsemouth' Wallace have in common? Bicycle thieves.

The 'plot' of Rockers, Greek writer/director Ted Bafaloukos' classic 1978 film is nothing to write - or even call - home about. It makes no difference: more than any movie I've seen (including The Harder They Come, which Bruce favours) Rockers captures the joy of the Jamaican experience, without ignoring the obvious problems of our society. The real star of the movie is Reggae music, and there's plenty of it. The cast reads like a 'Who's Who' of 1970s' reggae music, including such luminaries as Burning Spear, Jacob Miller, Big Youth and Gregory Isaacs, to name only a few.

Not much to it

Great performances and musical moments abound, often with little or no provocation - and it works. So what happens is that our protagonist, Horsemouth, buys a bike. It gets stolen by gangsters. He tries to get it back. Like I said, there's not much to it.

Nevertheless, the atmosphere and life inherent in the film's setting illustrate and point to some very basic human truths. Ockham's razor is particularly appropriate - things shouldn't be, and aren't in this case, complicated for no reason. Instead, we are presented with Jamaican reggae music culture, and given the opportunity to find the general in the particular, if we so desire.

Other films including bicycle theft include Vittorio De Sica's The Bicycle Thief (1948) and Tim Burton's Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (1985).

END

- Bruce Alexander & Omar Francis