- Actors: Countryman, Hiram Keller, Carl Bradshaw, Basil Keane, Freshey Richardson
- Directors: Dickie Jobson
- Format: Colour, DVD-Video, PAL
- Language English
- Region: All Regions
- Aspect Ratio: 4:3 - 1.33:1
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: Exempt
- Studio: Palm Pictures
- DVD Release Date: 6 Feb 2006
- Run Time: 102 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B00049QQWS
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 21,311 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
A contemporary Jamaican fable with a remarkable, out-of-nowhere hero, Countryman is the story of a Rastafarian fisherman, Countryman (credited to "Himself"), who rescues a marijuana-smuggling, American couple from an airplane crash. The good deed doesn't end there, however. An ambitious and power-hungry, emerging despot, Colonel Sinclair (Basil Keane), hypes the significance of the crash to impress political leaders, maintaining the smugglers are, in fact, enemy agents plotting against the government. Thus Countryman's new friends are in great danger, and he keeps them out of harm's way between smoking spliffs and putting up a preternaturally agile fight against Sinclair's weapons-wielding thugs. The film exudes an infectious, contact-high energy, and Countryman's gravity-defying stunts should please fans of similarly spectacular martial-arts movies such as Hero. The soundtrack to this 1982 movie features some of the greats of Jamaican reggae, including Bob Marley, Toots and the Maytals, and Steel Pulse. --Tom Keogh
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
One certainly wouldn't recommend this film for the plotline or, indeed for the acting, which is almost universally comically bad. This is a document of a place in time, Jamaica in the late seventies, politics, nature and culture all portrayed with stunning realism.
The story follows 'Countryman' a simple rastafarian fisherman who rescues an American couple when their light plane crashes in a remote swamp. Facing an election, and with public opinion swinging against them, the government seizes on the incident as an opportunity to make political capital by portraying them as CIA agents smuggling weapons to opposition supporters. Somewhat oblivious to the politics, Countryman hides them and helps them escape their army pursuers.
One might think the plot had been lifted straight out of 'Tarzan' if it weren't such a faithful reflection of the climate of political intrigue and violence that characterized the bloody struggle between the JLP and the PNP in late seventies Jamaica. In fact the involvement of the CIA, publicly denied by Kissinger at the time, has since been confirmed on the record by retired CIA operatives.
Countryman (credited as 'himself') is superb, injecting some depth to his part which is conspicuously lacking among the other actors. However, it is the scenery and (some ghastly supernatural effects apart) the production that are the real stars. The atmosphere of rural Jamaica is caught as faithfully here as urban life is in 'The Harder They Come' and anyone who loves the country couldn't help but be deeply moved.
The soundtrack too is awesome, right up there with THTC as one of the ultimate documents of authentic Jamaican reggae.
So, cineasts need not apply. For lovers of Jamaica, five stars all the way. Irie.
The story follows 'Countryman' a simple rastafarian fisherman who rescues an American couple when their light plane crashes in a remote swamp. Facing an election, and with public opinion swinging against them, the government seizes on the incident as an opportunity to make political capital by portraying them as CIA agents smuggling weapons to opposition supporters. Somewhat oblivious to the politics, Countryman hides them and helps them escape their army pursuers.
One might think the plot had been lifted straight out of 'Tarzan' if it weren't such a faithful reflection of the climate of political intrigue and violence that characterized the bloody struggle between the JLP and the PNP in late seventies Jamaica. In fact the involvement of the CIA, publicly denied by Kissinger at the time, has since been confirmed on the record by retired CIA operatives.
Countryman (credited as 'himself') is superb, injecting some depth to his part which is conspicuously lacking among the other actors. However, it is the scenery and (some ghastly supernatural effects apart) the production that are the real stars. The atmosphere of rural Jamaica is caught as faithfully here as urban life is in 'The Harder They Come' and anyone who loves the country couldn't help but be deeply moved.
The soundtrack too is awesome, right up there with THTC as one of the ultimate documents of authentic Jamaican reggae.
So, cineasts need not apply. For lovers of Jamaica, five stars all the way. Irie.
10 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This has to be the best film ever and I went to the UK premier, reggae has a vision, soul and a feeling with great images. The Music is special and the story not great but for photography, great soundtrack and a belief that you were there this is the best, enjoy
Format:DVD
This is an amazing film which captures the essential qualities of jamaican urban life. An inspiring work which reveals aspects of the cultural mix inherantly Jamaican.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Countryman
Bought for my partner as he is Jaimican, but has lived in England for quite a few years, and therefore found this film very good and reminded him of what it was like when he was... Read more
Published on 25 April 2010 by Mrs. F. A. Weaver
Countryman
This film is a Jamaican classic that is relatively unknown outside of the west indian community. It centres around the island of Jamaica's natural mystic 'countryman' a man who... Read more
Published on 6 July 2009 by kay-jay
Great soundtrack to bad bad film
Being a 70s film with cult status is no excuse....the soundtrack is superb, the film is truly aweful. Boring, boring, boring with poor acting and a flimsy plot. Read more
Published on 15 Mar 2008 by Bwana Kobe
Forget The Harder They Come!
This is the ultimate reggae lovers film! Forget the film, the plot is plausible but the music is the best! Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2004
Great Film to watch
This film just puts you in the mood for a holiday in the sun, just listening to great music and chilling out. Read more
Published on 24 April 2003 by Kim - West Ham
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