Black Mother

In this unique look at Jamaican culture, bright visuals are accompanied by testimony from citizens ranging from religious leaders to prostitutes, all with fascinating insight into the country's history, traditions and future. Rather than taking an A-to-B narrative approach, director Khalik Allah takes us into the beating heart of the nation, mixing sights and sounds to create something very authentic. Most interesting is the divisive subject of belief, an anchor for many interviewees but an unwelcome presence for others. An elderly Rastafarian reflects happily on the changing attitudes towards his beliefs, while others lament what they see as the "business" of Christianity and its hold on an island that has more churches per square mile than anywhere else in the world. Rather than making a specific point, Black Mother is a portrait of a national identity, painted in a way that will stay with all who see it.