VIA PRESS RELEASE | A captivating, unparalleled exploration charting 70 years in the life of the Godfather of Reggae, includes music and archival footage from throughout Perry’s career featuring Bob Marley and the Wailers, Paul McCartney, The Clash, and Beastie Boys.
The Upsetter: The Life & Music of Lee “Scratch” Perry will join Criterion’s February lineup under their new Roots & Revolution: Reggae on Film collection and will be featured alongside several other classic reggae films.
“The Upsetter,” originally coined as the name of Lee “Scratch” Perry’s record label, house band and first album title, eventually became a nickname that would grow to be his moniker to this day. Filmmakers Ethan Higbee (Red Apples Falling, The Anti-Fascist, Basedworld) and Adam Bhala Lough (Alt-Right: Age of Rage, Bomb The System, The Carter) tell Perry’s story through an exclusive in-depth interview with the notoriously reclusive late artist. After infamously burning his renowned studio, The Black Ark, to the ground in a fit of rage during a time of personal difficulty in the early 1980s, Perry took refuge in Switzerland to confront his demons, many of which he addresses in The Upsetter.
The film also features musical tracks and iconic archival footage selected from throughout Perry’s extensive career. These video footage gems and extraordinary photographs taken from the vaults of music history span nearly five decades and feature Bob Marley and the Wailers, Paul McCartney, The Clash, and Beastie Boys, all of whom Perry produced, and speak to the breadth of his influence as a producer, artist, and icon.
The Upsetter is not only a fascinating character study of an artist who revolutionized music through the invention of dub, the predecessor to hip-hop, techno, and modern electronic music, but a one-of-a-kind documentation of 30 years of Jamaican music and culture.
With a storied past and an indelible imprint not only on music history but the sound of music itself, Lee “Scratch” Perry—singer, songwriter, producer, poet, painter, genius and madman—has never been portrayed more accurately, thoughtfully, or powerfully than he is in The Upsetter. For all of his enigmatic ways, this documentary might just be best described by this matter-of-fact statement from Lee “Scratch” Perry himself: “This is my movie and this is the truth.”
Lee “Scratch” Perry said, “Hallo to you my Peeples out there this is my movie of the Past AND the Present…. Enjoy it God Bless it Lee $cratch Perry Vi$$ions.”
Benicio del Toro explains “With the blessing of the legendary Lee Scratch Perry, Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough’s The Upsetter opens a window into the little-known story of one of the geniuses of Reggae music and, for that matter, of any kind of music. The Upsetter is a testament to the unique career of a true snow leopard. Yah, mon.”
Filmmaker Adam Bhala Lough says, “The Criterion Collection giving love to The Upsetter is fucking awesome. Props to them and Criterion curatorial director Ashley Clark.”
Filmmaker/musician Ethan Higbee says, “It’s quite remarkable that the history of the film has taken a similar trajectory to Lee’s story. My house and studio in Ojai, California burned down in the 2017 Thomas Fire. Inside the studio were all the master tapes and elements to the film as well as over 30 Lee Perry art works. It’s a miracle we’ve been able to create a new master for this release with Criterion. Much like Lee’s studio burning down and his rebirth outside of Jamaica, the film too is now having a rebirth. We believe Lee’s magic is still at work!”
PHOTO: ADAM BHALA LOUGH
