The Rhythmatist (1985) Poster

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10/10
About The Rhythmatist,
georgina-elizondo16 January 2006
It is an extraordinary documentary about music & Africa. I love the film. I saw it many times, since I bought it a long time ago. I love to see My Music Superman deeply involved as an archaeologist guy. I never went to Africa, but this was an amazing way to get a little bit in touch with that part of our world. The important thing, is that Stewart turns into art some of his selected life experiences. He has a unique perspective and turns it in Magic, transforming his pilgrim experiences into musical art and was very funny and good for me, see his work. I feel very happy making contact with his essence through his records. I also loved to see the African animals in a safety way for me. The thing I like it the most is when I see Stewart Copeland, riding and running his horse, but between giraffes. As he said, he felt like he was riding in slow motion action, but all was a real experience. ¡Bravo!

PS. Thinking more about Rhythmatist now I want to talk about people in Africa. Is good to see how they live there and Stewart as an anthropology man involved with people just like another human being. He played his music there, listened to their music, and also danced in an African party between them.

Is like he is taking profit to his life opportunities, (I understand better this thanks to some writes of veil of ignorance. Rawls.) to share trough or across his art, to all people who likes and follow his music and film paraphernalia.
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10/10
One of my Fave-Rave Films... along with Peter Weir's "The Last Wave" and Moyer's Interviews with Joe Campbell...
AlBabe3 December 2020
As far as I know this has only been available as a VHS Tape and a Japanese Laser Disc... all now long Out Of Print.

I love this Film. It's a wonderful crazy cosmic romp loosely based in Anthropological Science, but not really... It is, however, filled with an otherworldly Musical Twist. It's Mystical, even Psychedelic, very tuneful, and definitely presented with tongue-firmly-planted-in-cheek.

A little Background: In 1985, Copeland released a solo album, The Rhythmatist. The record was the result of a pilgrimage to Africa and its peoples, featuring local drums and percussion; with more drums, percussion and other musical instruments added by Copeland.

The album was the official soundtrack to the movie of the same name, co-written by Stewart. He also starred in the movie, which claims that its "A musical odyssey through the heart of Africa in search of the roots of Rock & Roll."

The movie is an almost psychedelic, psychological, anthropological, and mythological cosmic adventure drawing from sources like Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung, and similar to Peter Weir's "The Last Wave." And we get to see Stewart playing drums in a cage with hungry lions surrounding him.
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10/10
Stewart Copeland starts his post Police journey in Africa. The place Drumming started
seivadch11 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
In his first solo project drummer extraordinaire Stewart comes to Africa and travels around with a sampling keyboard and a film crew.

The soundtrack is utterly superb, as you would expect, and has inspired me in my own musical journey. I should mention there is a soundtrack album to this film. Although they each have unique sounds, even if closely related.

This is the start of many musical explorations Stewart has done. See his BBC on Drums episode and his follow up Adventures in Music series.

However this does have a silly almost Benny Hill sequence in the middle that lightens the mood.

Memorable scenes include Hippo's in a river and the madness of Stewart drumming in a mesh cage whilst surrounded by a pride of lions try to enter, driven wild by his drumming.

My favorite visage however, is where Copeland is riding a horse along side a giraffe.
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