Editor’s note: The following is a review from a Critical Writing and Reviewing student at the University of Missouri.
Documentaries give the viewer a unique opportunity to take an in depth view at an issue or event. This was certainly the case with Rise Up a documentary chronicling the lives and burgeoning careers of three musicians in Jamaica over the course of a few years.
Going into this film, I knew virtually nothing about Jamaican music. I knew who Bob Marley was, but that was about it. Not even being a very big fan of what I had heard of Jamaican music, I was a little skeptical of how much I would enjoy what I heard. However, the music was pleasant and the film enjoyable and easy to follow.
One of the best aspects, in my opinion, was the way that the filmmaker, Luciano Blotta showed how music was woven into the fabric of Jamaican society. Blotta portrays music as an integral part of the culture by showing many different residents singing and creating songs on the spot for the camera. A soundtrack of natural sounds and Jamaican music backs the film, giving the audience a sense of what is like to live in this atmosphere of music.
The subjects of the documentary are diverse and interesting. Turbulance is a young man from the ghetto who is driven to become one of Jamaica’s top performers. Kemoy is a shy country girl with a beautiful, big voice. These characters contrast to Ice, a young white man from an affluent family. All three dream of success but face difficulties in achieving their goals. Ice lacks credibility because of his family’s wealth. Kemoy faces increased obstacles because she is a woman and Turbulance finds it difficult to get recognized in his own country.
Blotta shows their lives bluntly letting the viewer see the good and the bad of the characters and allowing the audience to make their own decisions about the three characters.
The film also includes some breathtaking views of the Jamaican countryside and eye opening shots of what it is like to live in the ghettos of the city. The camera zooms down streets on the back of a motorcycle and pans through the streets of the slums giving viewers a clear idea of the home of the characters.
by Katie Drexler
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