Documentaries "The First Rasta" and "Bad Friday" now available on DVD

Caribbean Creativity is proud to present the DVD release of THE FIRST RASTA and BAD FRIDAY: RASTAFARI AFTER CORAL GARDENS through their official online store. Caribbean Creativity is the first, and so far the only, Dutch distributor of the two unique Rasta documentaries. Costumers located outside the Netherlands can also order the DVDs at very low shipping and packaging costs.

Based on Hélène Lee’s celebrated 1999 book, THE FIRST RASTA offers a compelling portrait of Leonard Howell's life (1893-1981), the initiator and catalyst of the Rastafari Movement, considered by many as its founder. The film, directed by Christophe Farnarier in collaboration with French music journalist Lee, follows the trail of a forgotten and overlooked, yet central character in the history of this movement. With a mix of archival footage and interviews of the members of his first community, THE FIRST RASTA makes a fascinating documentary, moving at times, describing the life and personality of a man who, beyond the founding of the first Rastafari community of Pinnacle, has laid the foundation of one of the first globalized visions of a world of peace and justice.

BAD FRIDAY focuses on a community of Rastafarians in western Jamaica who annually commemorate the 1963 Coral Gardens incident, a moment just after the island’s independence, when the Jamaican government rounded up, jailed and tortured hundreds of Rastafarians. The 63-minute long documentary recounts the poignant history of violence in Jamaica through the eyes of its most iconic community and shows how people use their recollections of past traumas to imagine new possibilities for a collective future. BAD FRIDAY, produced and directed by John Jackson, Jr. and Deborah Thomas, along with Junior “Gabu” Wedderburn and Junior “Ista J” Manning, features interviews with Rasta elders who experienced the Coral Gardens incident along with archival footage and historical photographs that place the interviews within the context of a longer history of persecution of the Rastafari movement. Junior “Gabu” Wedderburn, former drummer at the Jamaican National Dance Company, has crafted the original BAD FRIDAYsoundtrack featuring 14 inspirational songs.

Both THE FIRST RASTA and BAD FRIDAY experienced their Dutch premiere at Rootical Vibrations, a popular Rasta film and music event in Amsterdam hosted by Caribbean Creativity that is one-of-its kind in Europe. For their DVD distribution, Caribbean Creativity works directly with the producers of the films. The DVD prices are settled with their consultation and the earnings are largely remitted to them so that they are able to continHélène Leeue their filmmaking activities. The proceeds from BAD FRIDAYare going back to the community through the Rastafari Coral Gardens Committee in order to provide assistance for those who experienced the Coral Gardens persecution.

The DVD of THE FIRST RASTA, which contains the film in three languages (English, French and Spanish subtitles), 40 minutes of bonus music, an exclusive interview with  and a beautiful booklet written (in French) by the director, can be purchased for €17,99. The DVD of BAD FRIDAY can be purchased for €12,99. Together with the CD, the package costs €19,99, while the CD can be bought for €9,99. Two other DVDs that are now available at reduced prices at Caribbean Creativity are WHY DO JAMAICANS RUN SO FAST? (DVD + BONUS CD: €13,99) and JAMAICA FOR SALE (DVD: €17,99). Dutch costumers can pay through iDEAL and PayPal, international customers can pay through PayPal. Both national and international shipping costs are kept low and shipment is always handled quickly.