The Story of Lovers Rock (12A)

Film

Documentaries

Lover's Rock.jpg

Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong>5/5
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Time Out says

Tue Sep 27 2011

In 1981 Menelik Shabazz made ‘Burning an Illusion’, a landmark film about black London life. With this heartfelt, if rambling, niche doc, Shabazz takes us back to black youth culture of that time with a nostalgic look at Lover’s Rock – a romantic, vocal-led reggae sub-genre entirely British in origin. The scene’s most enduring tune is the mesmerising ‘Silly Games’ sung by Janet Kay, one of many musicians interviewed here. As well as remembering the music, Shabazz recalls the effect that this smoochy sound had on youngsters of the time and breaks up his talking-heads and archive format with sugary reconstructions of parties and chatty inserts from black comedians of that generation. A worthwhile film – but one for fans only.

Author: Dave Calhoun

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Release details

Rated:

12A

UK release:

Fri Sep 30 2011

Duration:

96 mins

Cast and crew

Director:

Menelik Shabazz

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Comments & ratings

Rated as: 5/5 (3 ratings)

  • funnnnnnny!!! and loved it for lovers rock fans....left out some lover rock artist and the people who raved in them,and their real life stories...however the comedy acts were soooooo, funny....i cant wait to get dvd....loversrock to stay,thankyou for my movie of my times

    spirit Tue Nov 15 2011
    Rated as: 4/5
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  • Excellent documentary, nostalgic, funny and informative. At moments in this film I just lost myself reminising and going back in time when the most popular music my generation listened to was about love. I don't think it's showing in London anymore but it is definitely worth buying on DVD and watching with all your family, whatever their age.

    Anne Mon Nov 14 2011
    Rated as: 5/5
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  • Great! I had a grin on my face all the way through!!! Like they say, 'It's a Sing Out Loud, Belly Laugh Kinda Film'. A must see :o)

    Lady P Sat Oct 15 2011
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  • Agree with above comment: This is a very interesting social commentary AND a musical journey thru a sub genre of Reggae that is still being sourced today by the likes of Amy Winehouse and Lilly Allen. and the reconstructions are in no way sugery....they are informative, interesting and very funny. This should be on wider release. An important and overdue social/comedy/music documentary.

    Mr. P Thu Oct 13 2011
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  • The film will fill in spaces as to how a whole generation survived some extremely turbulent times for 'Black Britain' so NOT just for fans but for initiates too! Very funny too.

    Richard Smith Tue Sep 27 2011
    Rated as: 5/5
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