‘Reggae Boyz’ doc at Brooklyn Film Fest
mism that prolongs the journey
from island favorite to global
contenders in a sport the world
regards with Olympic pride,
unyielding loyalty and unrivaled
athletic skill.
The German director actually
moved in with a member of
the cast in order to capture the
day-to- day activities of his subject.
It’s something of a tradition
he has incorporated in his film
direction. Call it charm or just
plain candid filmography, Till
and his lens take up residency
and in no time becomes invisible
as his subjects routinely
function.
Like a shadow he follows local
amateur, star Tuffy Anderson
who makes his living from being
a welder.
He also rises early to accompany
the leader of Nommadz as
he stretches to exercise on the
beach.
And while much of the preparations
take place on the island,
audiences are also treated to out
of town games in Panama and
other places.
Audiences already know the
score, the quest to win did not
minimize the will despite the
outcome.
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youth that he played the game.
More explicitly though he is even more explicit
when explaining how cannabis enhances the
sport.
Winnie, a virgin herbalist seems totally
enthralled by the weed and its attributes but as
a foreigner and newcomer to the wonders must
listens attentively to the veteran advocate.
Schafer is purposeful and dedicated to a mantra
that sustains Jamaicans -- “we little but we
tallawah.”
With that sense of purpose “Reggae Boyz” won
respect and Schnauder certainly amplified the
can do persistence displayed to world viewers.
Both Schnauder and Nodjoumi attended the
Brooklyn premiere and together they provided
verbal testimonies of their time spent on the
island.
Since then they have taken their prizewinner
from Tribeca to Cannes, and from Washington
D.C. to Paris for screenings at the Lucerne Film
Festival and the DC Caribbean Film Fest.
“Reggae Boyz” begin and end with upful opti-
By Vinette K. Pryce
Jamaica’s Reggae Girlz are
first to take a Caribbean soccer
team to the FIFA Women’s
World Cup Championship Competition.
Rated amongst the world’s
best soccer players from the Caribbean,
the women are on the
world-stage to test their mettle
against the best kickers, headers
and scorers to play the sport.
But their male counterparts
were first to compete and qualified
in 1997 to represent the
island and region as Reggae
Boyz.
Now a film of the same title
documents the journey recently
premiered at the 22nd annual
Brooklyn Film Festival where it
won the audience award for best
documentary feature.
The film had a European premiere
in 2018 and was first nominated
for best documentary at
the Krakow Film Festival.
Later the film screened at the
German Television Awards.
The feel-good, inspirational
flick was produced by Iranian
Sara Nodjoumi and written and
directed by Germany’s Brooklyn
based Till Schauder.
Together with Partner Pictures
they are now exalting the
glory of the team that stalled
crime on the island and allegedly
on the day the team qualified
may have been responsible for
the fact there was not a single
report of any criminal activity.
Small wonder perhaps but
the national support buoyed
diasporic enthusiasm akin to
the 1988 Olympic qualification
that resonated with “Cool Runnings”
association of a united
and spirited willingness exhibited
by the country’s bobsled team
during the Winter Olympics to
excel despite the odds.
Music and comedy are the
bonuses of the 75-minute feature
that incorporates a charismatic,
funny German coach
named Winfried “Winnie”
Schafer and a reggae band
named NoMaddz. Together they
liven the action and even if soccer
is not your game, the film
will endear enlightenment.
Talk is key to the development
and Bunny Wailer, Bob
Marley’s original collaborator
offers nuff chat. So does guitarist
Earl “Chinna” Smith who
admittedly is not a fan of the
game but willing expound on his
lack of appreciation for watching
a game that compels players to
chase a ball into a goalkeeper’s
space.
The sole surviving Wailer
is colorful and boastful in his
explanation of a time in his
The Reggae Boyz from Jamaica. Partner Pictures
German coach Winfried “Winnie” Schafer.
Partner Pictures
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