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Peter Tosh: "Without Truth There Conscious- Ness"

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Peter Tosh: something. It is one round trip, bring- journal of socio-political analysis, spiritu- Viewers are swept along in a Rastafari ing us almost exactly where we were at al beliefs, and mystical experiences mise - en -scene unveiled in the essence of the beginning, and it is just terribly irri- recorded by Tosh from 1983 until his ganja, with a man who simply believed tating • death in 1987), as well as interviews with in the truth of poor people. Opening Claire Valade is a filmmaker and freelance family, friends and acquaintances. with Coke's memories of her only child, journalist living in Montreal. Bringing to life the Trenchtown of Stepping Razor — Red X is a potent Tosh's youth, this lush, heady film is full inquiry into the events surrounding of romantic legends and vital actualities Tosh's death; into the impact of the star Reviewed by Marva Jackson which comprise the real stuff of Peter system of the mainstream music industry Tosh's life. Within a couple of hours, on the evolution of The Wailers; and of Stepping viewers are introduced to a boiled down the dynamic trio—Peter Tosh, Bunny Razor—Red X history of Jamaica's contemporary politi- Wailer and Bob Marley—as individuals Directed and written by Nicholas cal and musical history from Rastafarian and as friends. Awash in the sounds of Campbell, produced and pho- and non-Rastafarian tographed by Edgar Egger, with perspectives. Peter Lloyd 'Rocky' Allen, Edward `Bigs' Tosh's life is sketched, Peter Allen, Andrea Davis and Ras Leon. using archival images A Nicolas Stiliadis and Syd Cappe of the Jamaican ghet- Production for SC Entertainment to, electoral struggles, Tosh: International. and recordings by The Wailers from their "It is only the truth that can make man free." inception as an early "Without Peter Tosh rhythm and blues Visionary musician Peter Tosh, co- group. founder of the trailblazing reggae group Stepping Razor— truth there The Wailers, lived by the truth the way Red Xis a wonderfully some people live by the sword. Some say culture specific film that he was murdered at the age of 43 that makes no excuses 15 because of his penchant for honest, for Tosh, but allows direct questioning of the role of politi- viewers to experience cians and the rich in the oppression of the life of the man conscious- people. Others says that Tosh's death who is often described may have been due to his financial com- as the revolutionary mitment to a friend, who was intent on Wailer. The film is ness" buying a Jamaican radio station which special because of the would have placed Rastafarian liberation way voices of organic and other Ja- Rastafarian drumming, roots reggae philosophy front and centre within maican cultural workers and intellectu- lyrics, and rousing music, Stepping Razor Jamaica's cultural arena. These points are als, such as Dermott Hussey, Joe Higgs grips viewers in an intensely personal brought home by Nicholas Campbell and Garth White (so rarely heard in the conversation with Tosh, a man full of and Edgar Egger, makers of the film mainstream) are used. This is definitely a contradictions, who was fearless in Stepping Razor — Red X, as they piece story of Rasta—powerful with divergent speaking out against social injustice, yet together a compelling work that gives faces of Rasta men who embrace seemed increasingly fearful of duppies serious consideration to the many Rastafari within a Jamaican context. (ghosts). In the end, we are affirmed in rumours and speculations which have However, there is some attempt to weave the understanding that "without truth arisen about Tosh's untimely death. By women's voices throughout, including there is no consciousness," and embrac- allowing Jamaican voices to take over the interviews with Tosh's mother Alvera ing everything—fear, truth, anger, com- film, the filmmakers have created a vivid, Morris Coke, and his cousin Pauline passion and action—makes us human • powerful documentary built around the Morris, along with his wife Marlene Marva Jackson works at Full Frame Dis- autobiographical Red X tapes (an oral Brown, and others who knew Tosh. tribution and writes a column for Metro Word. take oiie film fel caKada fall 1993 37 .
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