Rasta Rockett
Rasta Rockett is a movie directed by Jon Turtletaub in 1993. The film stars Leon Robinson, Doug E. Doug, Malik Yoba, Rawle D. Lewis, and John Candy.The film is based on the true story of the first Jamaican Bobsleigh team at Calgary, Alberta (Canada)in the 1988 Winter Olympics.
At the begining of the story there is a meeting of two men .On the one hand Irving Blitzer an American bobsleigher double gold medallist at the 1968 Winter Olympics.Unfortunately in 1972's Olympic Games he is disqualified for cheating and retires in disgrace to Jamaica.On the other hand it's Derice Bannock, a 100m runner dreaming of a qualification to olympic games.He would do as well as his father who had been the 200m olympic champions in 1968 at Mexico.On the 100m selections day Derice falls during his race with two others sprinters.Derrice will then think to an other way to fulfill his dream.He hires the two athletes he fell with.Together they will look for Irving Blitzer who lives in Jamaica.He accepts to coach them to be the the first Jamaican Bobsleigh team in the history.In Calgary they will learn bobsleigh.They won't be the olympic champions but will be congratulated by everybody .
We have chosen this movie because it talks about Jamaicans.In this movie we can see habits and values of Jamaicans.The bobsleighers want to show it the world. The Olympic Games are clearly a window for them , not to show their qualities or else but to express their pride of their culture and history.This humouristic movie, using a little bit of stereotypes shows very well happiness and faith jamaicans have.In the film we can see black people trying to practise a sport usually practised by white people.The problem then is :despite our differences (culture, way of thinking , hobbies..)how can we be mixed.Jamaican people in this film represents black people in general.We can see that the obstacles are not only the colour or the climate in Jamaica but above all their culture.This problem is mentionned in the song of the film "I can see clearly now" composed by the Jamaican singer Jimmy Cliff. He says "I can see all obstacles in my way , here's the rainbow I've been praying".We can imagine that now he knows what kept him from communicate with others.The rainbow can be compared to a bridge linking different communities. This is according to us the aim of this movie : showing how a bridge can be built to meet our neighbours.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yAeLtIDBJI&feature=related
Jesse Kinvi