Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17187 in DVD
• Released on: 2004-10-19
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 102 minutes

Amazon.com
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

Customer Reviews

Perfect summer sunsplash
I was so jazzed to see this gem of a movie come out on DVD - and at such a bargain basement price! Countryman is not a Hollywood movie about Jamaica - if you want that, get The Mighty Quinn. Most of the cast are not professional actors, including the title character, Countryman. But the honesty, wisdom, humor, danger, and bounty of rural Jamaica come out in full in this film. The DVD includes a featurette with recent comments by the writer-director, and some of the actors. The story is pretty straightforward - Countryman rescues a couple of Americans whose plane has crashed, and the army is looking for them. Along the way there's some amazing athleticism, bumbling military men, eerie obeah magic, a random cockfight... all with a great reggae soundtrack featuring several familiar Bob Marley songs. The picture is kind of grainy, and the end credits are a bit fuzzy, kind of like a bad video transfer, but it was quite low-budget so not sure if that's something that could have been improved. Anyway, for $$$ you can't go wrong.

VHS / DVD Changes
Having had the VHS and soundtrack album for many years I was pleased to find the DVD on a recent trip to the US. I was saddened to see, or rather hear, that a lot of the Jamaican English has been re-dubbed to make it more understandable. I had no problem understanding the VHS version I had from the UK. I don't know if this is a US/UK change or a DVD/VHS change, either way it is unwelcome and not needed.

Other than that...great film

Raw Rasta
If you're into Rastafarianism, Reggae (5-star soundtrack, Bob Marley, etc.), and/or seek to explore the cultural dichotomy of rural Jamaican life juxtaposed against the oppression of the city and the government, 'Countryman' is a buzz. In vague brief, it's the story of two American plane crash victims who are rescued and then further aided by a rasta fisherman while they are being hunted by desparate Jamaican authorities for bogus political reasons. There is a mystical element that will bring you great satisfaction if you tend to favor underdogs in struggles against repression and brutality. For those who have had the experience of the spleef, be prepared to smile and nod knowingly during the "dinner" scene.

I dropped the fifth star only because of the poorly scripted and acted military scenes. Some people may have difficulty understanding the patois or "duck" English typical of Jamaicans. Also, I can't speak to the DVD quality as I have only seen the video version. I have reviewed the video version because the DVD has not yet been released and there were no other reviews of the film. But I can say that I've watched this film many times (having finally tracked down a copy of the video after several years of searching) and I can think of no better recommendation than that - and no better reason to suggest that you get your own copy.

The lesson line: "First, you have to have that intention."

Iree!