Jamaica 55 medals
The Caribbean isnt exactly renowned for its cinema; in fact, that part of the world instead has an extremely rich history of literature. The Jamaican film industry has generally been focused on the gang violence that the country has endured through its contemporary history. Of course, this is not the only focus with the countries rich history in reggae music also playing such an important role in its national cinema. It just so happens that the two often interweave in their films, which funnily enough is where the Gold medal lands. Bronze The Countryman (Dickie Jobson, 1982)
The iconic image of Countryman running in slow motion through from the wilderness of Jamaica into the city will forever be immortalised when discussing Jamaicas national cinema. Telling the story of Countryman, a fisherman who saves the lives of two Americans whose plane crash lands. When the treacherous Colonel Sinclair attempts to create a political backdrop to their crash, claiming they are undercover foreign agents, Countryman and his two American companions must then go on the run to survive. It displays Jamaica in all its natural beauty with the film taking place, for the majority of its running time, outside of Jamaicas bustling cities and instead in the tropical wilderness. With another great Jamaican soundtrack, Countryman is a great film about the spirituality and naturalism of the Rastafari and one which is an important addition to Jamaicas cinematic identity. Silver Marley (Kevin MacDonald, 2012)
Although this is a film funded by American and British companies and directed by a Scotsman, Marley should be considered a Jamaican film. The highest-profile documentary about the countys idol is both insightful and superb. The only documentary to actually be given the green light by the Marley estate, Kevin MacDonald utilises Marleys iconic status and reputation to comment upon the larger historical narrative of Jamaicas colonial history. With the guidance of the Marley estate, he is given access to the family and friends where many other biographical attempts have succumbed. The insight into his relationship with The Wailers and Marleys adverse nature to join in with politics, which seems to help define many national icons, means that this may be as close to a true biography as we will ever see. Gold The Harder They Come (Perry Henzell, 1972)
Probably Jamaicas most well-known cinematic export, The Harder They Come tells the story of a reggae singer, Ivanhoe Martin (played by actual reggae singer Jimmy Cliff), who is on the verge of breaking through to success until he discovers the cutthroat realism of a musical career. Instead, a friend he met when he arrived in Jamaica to start a career, offers him the opportunity to sell marijuana, entering into a life of crime and violence Ivan becomes a cult hero in Kingston. The film itself is clearly poorly-made in terms of its cinematography, makes up for it in its marvellous anti-hero plot and brilliant music and performances by Jimmy Cliff himself. The Harder They Come was made 10 years after Jamaica gained independence from British rule and the film rightly displays this in many scenes. Ivan becomes a character representative of the attempt to challenge the imposing hierarchy of both music and the corrupt law. Revered around the world, it will always remain the countries key cinematic export. Click "next" below for Part 4 - "Mexico"...