Jamaica is making a splash with two feature films in competition at the Toronto International Film Festival, held from 7 to 16 September.
We have already told you about "Made in Jamaica", Jérôme Laperrousaz's film, centred on music and involving many major Jamaican reggae artists (Bunny Wailer, Toots Hibbert, Capleton, Beres Hammond, Bounty Killer and Third World). The film, which is competing in the "Real to reel" category, will be screened on 13 and 15 September.
Further from reggae, the Toronto festival will also present "No place like home" by Perry Henzell, to whom we owe the classic "The harder they come", released in 1972, which introduced Jimmy Cliff to the whole world. This second instalment of a trilogy about Jamaica is not a new idea, as shooting began in 1973 before running into multiple misadventures that delayed its release until 2006.
Where "The harder they come" told the adventures of a Jamaican from the countryside arriving in Kingston, "No place like home" takes the opposite tack, telling the story of a rather posh New Yorker lost in rural Jamaica.
The film, which will be screened on 13 and 15 September in the "Visions" category, is naturally punctuated with reggae classics and also offers the chance to see the first appearance of Grace Jones, the Jamaican-born actress.
More information: http://www.e.bell.ca/filmfest