The Cultural Revolution Being Undertaken by Young Jamaicans
Documentary Weekly is proud to be an official media partner of the Paris Surf & Skateboard Film Festival (PSSFF), taking place 24th to 27th September at L’Entrepôt, in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.
“OUT DEH: The Youth of Jamaica” opened6 the festival at 20:45 on Thursday 24th September and screened a second time at 20:15 on Sunday 27th September.
“OUT DEH : The Youth of Jamaica” opens to running shots of the dense, foreboding jungle that blankets the island’s mountainous centre. Slow, distant drumming can be heard in the distance as the narrator begins:
“I feel lost in this wild jungle…”
Like in so many other Caribbean countries, life is tough for the inhabitants of Jamaica. But with this immersive first-time documentary, director Louis Josek chooses to explore the country from the perspective of its indignant, ambitious youth, the key instigators of a growing cultural shift in the island’s society. By combining stunning cinematography with an intriguing cast, Josek creates a magnetic and distinctive atmosphere that makes up for the film’s sometimes slow pace and occasional lack of direction.
The focus is on three main characters. The first, 23-year-old pro surfer Elishama Beckford, is Bull Bay born and bred, as we find out during his hitch-hike home. Budding footballer Romar Rose lives in the infamous Tivoli Garden, a ghetto known to be one of the most dangerous in Jamaica. And Daniel Simpson, or “Bakersteez”, is a young rapper from Kingston, successfully going against the grain of the reggae music culture that surrounds him.
Each of them is different. Shama feels at ease on the beach, surrounded by wilderness and free of distractions while Bakersteez is inspired by the big, “grimy“ capital city and Romar has never even left his ghetto. All three have their focus sharpened by a passion for what they do but find themselves at different turning points in their lives. Bakersteez can already be heard playing from the abounding roadside sound-systems and Shama is becoming a master of his craft but Romar is just taking his first steps towards success.
Daniel Simpson or “Bakersteez” is a young rapper from Kingston
However, all three face the same challenges : chronic poverty, a lack of opportunities and the ever-present temptation of crime. The simple fact of being Jamaican has stacked the odds against them, but listening to their plans and ambitions, you wouldn’t know it. Their response to the circumstances is marked by a dogged determination and an incredible urge to succeed.
It’s this attitude that “Out Deh” sets out to capture. Far from being a victory lap of accomplished young Jamaicans, the film serves as an insight into an ongoing cultural shift. In adversity, all three characters have found resilience, discipline and a compelling belief in themselves, but their ambition isn’t selfish. They also show a mature desire to inspire their community and overcome social problems.
In the words of Bakersteez, ”all you got to do is lay a brick, and hope the next person lays one too”.
23-year-old professional surfer Elishama Beckford, from Bull Bay
Unfortunately, it takes a while for this message to crystallise in the film, resulting in some aimless sequences that rely too much on the picture’s appealing aesthetic rather than feeding a narrative arc.
Nonetheless, “Out Deh” is a captivating directorial debut that matches its subjects impressive ambition and confidence. As the credits roll, we think back to the narrator’s vindicated early prediction: “A new day is arising on the island. I can feel it.”
Documentary Weekly is proud to be an official media partner of the Paris Surf & Skateboard Film Festival (PSSFF), taking place 24th to 27th September at L’Entrepôt, in the 14th arrondissement of Paris.
“OUT DEH: The Youth of Jamaica” opened the festival at 20:45 on Thursday 24th September and screened a second time at 20:15 on Sunday 27th September.
