Films about rastamans in recent years are becoming more popular, which is associated with the development of this culture, although it is still banned in Russia. Traditionally, Rastafans are called followers of Rastafarianism. This is a religious movement that originated among African Americans. His true adherents were supporters of the doctrine of African superiority, advocated the return of American blacks to Africa. Moreover, in the broad sense of the word, this is the name of all marijuana lovers without any religious background.
Rastamans in Russia
Films about rastamans mostly foreign production. The subculture itself in our country appeared only in the early 90s. Just the same, the Russian Rastamans were never adherents of a certain religious movement.
The basis of this subculture was the music of Bob Marley and reggae in general, they used combinations of green, yellow and red in clothes, many wore dreadlocks.
Today in Moscow and St. Petersburg quite large Rastaman communities are developed, they conduct cultural events and develop their sites.
Interest in this culture has increased due to the permission to use marijuana in certain territories. For example, in Canada or some US states. Therefore, there is such an interest in films that talk about the use of soft drugs. In this article we will talk about the films “Careless Rider”, “Smoked”, “Sudden Awakening”, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, “Save Grace”, “Pineapple Express: I'm Sitting, I Smoke”, “Harold and Kumar Leave in the gap "," Ideal "," Madness "," A Thousand Words. "
"Easy Rider"
One of the earliest and most well-known films about rastamans, in which interest in soft drugs was raised, was Dennis Hopper's road movie "Easy Rider", which was released in 1969.
This is a story about two informal bikers Wyatt and Bill (one of them is played by the director himself, and the second by Peter Fonda). With money from drug smuggling from Mexico, they go on a trip to the South American states in search of freedom.
Local southerners, mostly conservative people, see them as strangers, therefore they are extremely hostile. Friends are adjoined by a lawyer (performed by Jack Nicholson), who perishes during a night attack of the rednecks.
The culmination of the film becomes a bacchanalia in one of the New Orleans brothels. At the same time, the path of friends to the south is constantly interrupted due to constant clashes with the townsfolk.
"Stoned"
It is worth noting that there are many Rastaman films-comedies. It is this genre that attracts most directors when they take up this topic. It was in this genre that the 1978 "Stoned" picture of Lou Adler was shot.
This film about the Rastamans was the first work of the comic duo Chong and Chich, consisting of Tommy Chong and Chich Marina, and they played the main roles in the film.
At the center of the story is the American Pedro de Pacas of Mexican descent. He meets hippies whom he constantly calls "dude." Together they go to Mexico, and from there they leave on a van made entirely of marijuana.
On the way, they meet up with girls named Jade and Deby heading for the Rocky Music Festival. Pedro and Dude, being musicians, decide to take part in it and win. Apparently, thanks to the smoke from the illuminated van, which at the time of their performance entered the auditorium.
This is a hilarious comedy about rastamans. The film grossed $ 41 million at the American box office, ranking 12th in box office.
Sudden Awakening
Another comedy that can be attributed to Rastaman films is called Sudden Awakening. It was filmed by directors Aaron Russo and David Greenwalt in 1989.
In this movie about Rastamans, events unfold in America in 1969. In the courtyard, the flowering of hippies. The main characters Jesus and Fred (actors Eric Roberts and Chiche Marin) decide to leave civilization in the vastness of Central America. They begin to live an independent commune, renouncing the world problems surrounding them. Events in the picture begin to develop rapidly when they discover a dead special agent in the dense jungle with a plan for the invasion of the United States.
Heroes consider it their duty to stop the disaster. For this, they are returning to New York, but over the years, the world has changed a lot. Their friends turned into greedy materialists, forgetting about feelings, for friends a new life became a rude and sharp awakening.
"Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"
Terry Gilliam's dramatic comedy "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" in 1998 was the film adaptation of Hunter Thompson's cult novel. Despite the fact that the film itself at the box office failed, in the future it also received this honorable definition, now it is considered by many to be the best comedy about rastamans.
The action of the picture was postponed to 1971. The main characters are journalist Raul Duke (actor Johnny Depp) and his friend, lawyer Dr. Gonzo, played by Benicio del Toro. On a red Chevrolet, they drive to Las Vegas through all of Nevada.
The buddies' goal is to write an article for the magazine about the local race, but very soon their journey turns into a psychedelic trip based on terrible hallucinations and drug delirium that absorbs both friends.
"Save Grace"
“Save Grace” by Nigel Cole is a very unusual comedy about rastamans. The film tells about a small village in the very south of England, which is considered a bastion of local conservative traditions. Recently, they include smoking marijuana.
Young people hide this habit by using weed in their circle, but the older generation knows all about it. They also smoke occasionally, trying to avoid talking on this topic. From the outside it seems that this is a very decent village, the visitor will never guess about the local order.
The main character of the picture is the classic housewife Grace performed by Brenda Bletin. She is absorbed in work in her greenhouse, not paying attention to the secret life around. In this case, even her gardener Matthew smokes (the actor is Craig Ferguson), and almost every day he even tries to grow hemp in the vicar's garden. Everyone in the village knows about his plan, even the vicar and constable, but they pretend that nothing is happening.
After the death of her husband, Grace discovers that he left her a large debt of about 300 thousand pounds, taken on bail of their house. If the money is not returned in the very near future, the house will be sold at auction.
Soon after, she learns about her gardener's attempts to grow hemp, deciding to participate in this. Grace begins to propagate it by cuttings, and then grow hydroponically. She decides to contact drug dealers to earn money to pay off debts. She is aware of the danger of this enterprise, but understands that there is simply no other way.
"Pineapple Express: Sitting, smoking"
From the comedies about the rastamans of recent years, many will immediately remember the American picture of David Gordon Green in 2008, "Pineapple Express: Sitting, Smoking."
It tells of the courier Dale Denton, performed by Seth Rogen, who delivers subpoenas to people throughout the city. He has extremely nervous and intense work, so he prefers to relax with the help of marijuana from time to time. He regularly buys grass from his trusted dealer Saul (actor - James Franco).
Once Sol offers him a completely unique product - a variety under the original name "Pineapple Express." After trying it, the main character goes to the next client with a summons. It turns out to be the local mafia Ted Jones (played by Gary Cole). When Dale drives up to his house, he becomes an involuntary witness of how Jones, along with the cop he bought, kills the Chinese mafiosi, who was their rival. Dale tries to escape from the scene, but only attracts the attention of criminals.
He manages to escape, but in a panic, the protagonist loses a cant with the same “Pineapple Express”, which can now lead gangsters to Sol.
"Harold and Kumar go to the gap"
Another American comedy on the subject was filmed in 2004. This is Danny Leiner’s adventure film Harold and Kumar Going Away.
The two protagonists are investment banker Harold Lee (actor John Cho) and the unemployed Kumar Patel (Cal Penn). Colleagues convinced Harold to do all the work for them, and they themselves went to rest. Kumar at the same time undergoes an interview at a medical school, but fails.
They agree to go home to smoke herbs. In his apartment, Harold meets a neighbor, Maria, whom he likes, but because of natural shyness, he cannot even make an acquaintance with her.
While smoking marijuana, friends want to eat a lot, so they decide to go to a cafe, but in its place they find a base snack bar, in which even employees of this establishment are not advised to eat. The seller, however, says that the nearest cafe they were looking for is located in Cherry Hill, urging them to go there. So begin their funny and adventurous wanderings.
"Ideal"
This topic is dedicated not only to feature films, but also to series. For example, from 2005 to 2011. on British television, the serial "Ideal" was released. In total, viewers saw seven seasons in which there were 53 episodes.
The protagonist of this story is a trader in hash and marijuana Moz (actor Johnny Vegas). This is a classic situational comedy, all of which take place in one room, in this case, in the apartment of Moza. A large number of visitors pass through it.
Among them are the childhood friend of the protagonist, who became a policeman, but remains one of his main suppliers, pretty girls who urgently want to smoke, a promising DJ who dreams of becoming a star, but while selling light bulbs in the store, a glamorous gay with his companions , hippies and many other hilarious characters.
"Madness"
Jonathan Levine’s Madness drama is dedicated to drug use. This 2008 painting tells of New York in the mid-90s, when the city is full of marijuana and hip-hop sounds everywhere.
The new mayor Rudolf Guliani begins to take action, condemning graffiti, loud music and drunkenness. At the center of the story is Luc Shapiro performed by Josh Peck. He is a drug dealer and student who made friends with Dr. Jeffrey Squires (actor Ben Kingsley). They turn out to be soul mates, and when Squires offers him to sell the drug for therapy sessions, both begin to explore their depression and the depths of New York.
"A thousand words"
In 2012, the American tragicomedy of Brian Robbins “A Thousand Words” was released, in which Eddie Murphy played the main role.
This is a story about book agent Jack McCall, who becomes the owner of the Bodhi Tree. After each word he said, one leaf falls from the tree, when a thousand fall, he will die.
Many noted the Rastaman song from the movie "A Thousand Words". It was a song Because I Got High of American rapper and musician Afroman. In general, there are a lot of music videos about rastamans. There is a song of the same name even by the Russian-speaking artist White Hot Ice.