LEE SCRATCH PERRY'S VISION OF PARADISE
Cert TBA
100 mins
BBFC advice: TBA
What is the difference between the views of Lee Scratch Perry and David Icke? Not a lot as far as I could see.
So, why is one hailed as one of the most original thinkers of his generation and the other dismissed as crazy?
I guess it must come down to context.
Perry was instrumental in bringing Bob Marley to international prominence by producing his early music at his famous studios in Jamaica and he has been named in Rolling Stone's top 100 artists of all time in his own right. Icke was a BBC TV snooker presenter.
Perry is far too eccentric to allow himself to to be the subject of a conventional biopic which is why Volker Schaner's documentary leaves its audience with the feeling of trying to catch a fast chicken.
Every time they think they might have established an understanding of Perry, he fires off into an unfathomable tangent.
Most of Perry's utterings are unintelligible because he mutters in a thick Jamaican accent. But even when his words can be heard they cannot always be understood.
The film follows the 79-year-old near his home in Switzerland and then back to his native Jamaica.
His life story is loosely hung around concert footage and Perry's unfathomable words of 'wisdom'. Alongside are testimonials from those who are clearly in awe of what they see as his genius.
This was my first exposure to Perry so I can only give an opinion on a film which is as unstructured as the life and thoughts of its subject.
I felt it concentrated too much of the bizarre warblings of now rather than his impressive past.
This meant I was left scratching my head for much of the time.
I would accept those with greater knowledge of reggae's history would be more fascinated.
Reasons to watch: if you are interested in the origins of reggae
Reasons to avoid: it is wildly off the wall
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: in photographs
Overall rating: 5/10
Star Tweet
Lee Scratch Perry I Am GOD