Menelik Shabazz’s “The Story of Lover’s Rock” is a doc heavy on talking heads, but also on tantalizing story strands, telling the story of the makers of a 1970s-80s form of underground south London reggae performance (which included comedy) meant to encourage late-night close dancing. “Lover’s Rock” is heavy on the love, for the scene and for the sound. While the streets outside were harsh and hostile, inside “scrubbing”—or close dancing—was the order of the night. While never a mainstream success, the sound—dubbed “reggae’s Motown” trickled out to influence UK bands like The Police and Culture Club. 96m. (Ray Pride)
“The Story of Lover’s Rock” opens Friday at Facets.
Ray Pride is Newcity’s Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
Talking Screens, December 16-22, 2022: "All The Beauty and The Bloodshed" is One of the Year's Finest | "Bardo" is a Small Story… "Avatar: The Way of Water," "All The Beauty and The Bloodshed," "The Volcano: Rescue From Whakaari" and "Bardo." PLUS: Bresson's "Au Hasard Balthazar," Andersson's "About Endlessless"; FACETS' "Holiday Detour" series; Chicago filmmaker-in-residence Daniel Nearing's "Sister Carrie" with an orchestra at Siskel; "The Thirty-Ninth Christmas Sing-A-Long & Double Feature" at the Music Box and Music Box Of Horrors and Shudder pull…
RECOMMENDED
