Hands-Down the BEST Documentary Film About Reggae Ever Made

Like the title says, it doesn't get any better than this. You're likely to fall in love with this film; whether you're new to reggae and want to discover some great new artists, or if you just want to learn more about reggae culture and the story behind its creation, or even if you're already a reggae veteran. This film is not to be missed!

1978 was a very interesting and unique time in Jamaican history. Many cultural, social, and political changes were in the air at that time. "Heartland Reggae" captures the feeling of that time perfectly, and the audience some short (but great) history lessons to boot. Although most of the film is made up of performances that were filmed during the Peace Concert and two other concerts which all took place around the same time and place. 

"Heartland Reggae" is not like a concert movie where you just have a bunch of live performances on film back-to-back. Instead, there's an excellent mix of historic story-telling via the narrator that's paired with footage of Jamaicans--particularly Rastas--going about their everyday lives, and some nice views of the countryside.

Personally I'm very biased in favor of this film, because I saw it as a 14-year-old boy and it captivated my imagination. I wasn't just interested in reggae and ganja, I wanted to learn more about who the Rastas were and where reggae came from. I also wanted to discover new reggae artists, because at the time I was listening to Bob Marley's "Legend" album, which is of course the furthest thing from roots reggae that Bob ever did. I bought this on DVD the year it came out (2004) and I was totally blown away by it; I must've watched every day for a month! This film taught me a lot about reggae and Jamaican roots. It gave me a great start for finding other bands and artists; this film introduced me to Jacob Miller and Peter Tosh, who are two of my heroes now. 

The only thing I could say that's even slightly negative about "Heartland Reggae" is that it left me wanting more. I really wished they did some interviews with the artists, especially considering that more than 90% of the musicians featured in this film are now deceased and most never gave interviews. However hindsight is 20/20, therefore I can't say anything bad about "Heartland Reggae". If you love reggae, go watch this film today!!!

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

The music genre features stories showcasing musical performances, music-related documentaries and recordings of live concerts and music festivals.

Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)

Reggae documentary of the One Love Peace Concert held in Kingston, Jamaica in 1978. In addition to the music, this film features the return to Jamaica of Bob Marley after a 16-month hiatus following an attempt on his life.

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Heartland Reggae

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