Die Reise des Löwen (1990) - full transcript
Brother Howie is a Jamaican Rastifari who dreams of the land of his ancestors: Africa. On a journey in search of his roots and his identity he travels through three continents and (with great humor and sensitivity) discovers the world and Africa.
(Jamaican Patois)
(musical aura)
- [Voiceover]
Everything's like a bell
that won't stop ringing.
- [Voiceover] Effective
relief from those sounds
and ringing headaches.
Get the headache medicine.
Get new Excedrin,
the extra-strength
pain-reliever.
Excedrin.
(radio music)
- [Voiceover] Left-wing
politics in Jamaica
is now faced with
a new challenge,
as the worker's party in Jamaice
is in danger of collapsing.
(unrecognizable) the new party
is having serious
financial problems,
and is finding it
increasingly difficult
to pay its recurrent expenses.
(unrecognizable)
also understands
that party members
are now advocating.
(shouting)
- Exercise.
Exercise.
94.
(speaking foreign language)
In Germany.
Very difficult.
- To believe?
- Must be
closed
by sunset.
Cars
must not be cleaned
on public holidays.
Or Sundays.
No washing may be hung out
on these days.
Children are not allowed to play
in the streets.
Our televisions and radio sets
must be turned on very low.
(exotic dance music)
- Our best friend,
(exotic dance music)
(exotic dance drums)
(exotic dance drums)
to get in contact with
(mumbling)
It is
great.
(exotic music)
- Ready?
- Application for a
Jamaican Passport.
For persons over
16 years of age.
Passport, Jamaica,
14711 Tree.
(laughing)
(harmonica)
(perplexing beat)
- Yeah, I remember coming over,
and I didn't like it at first.
So, how did you feel
about me coming over,
and you didn't?
- Well, I mean, I
missed you, yes,
because, you know, we
were all live together,
but,
(speaking Jamaican)
- Woman] But, would you
have liked to have come?
- Well, at that
time, yes, you know?
- Yeah, and, I mean,
how do people react,
'cause I was only little then.
I didn't know about me
being so different to you.
What were people
like about that.
- Well, I mean, in Jamaica,
life is like that.
You know, you have a
lot of family, you know?
You know, separated.
And then the next month,
a different set of
children come in.
- 'Cause you have to
explain that every time,
that we had the same mom.
Yeah, and you said you used
call me your white baby.
I didn't know that.
- When you are smiling,
I have to be around,
you know?
(speaking Jamaican)
I love children for a long time.
- I noticed that.
You're very good with children,
and I remember the times
we used to spend together.
I remember dancing, and
you used to put my feet
on your feet, and pretend
I was dancing with you.
- And the boys, know
what used to say?
How it? Get like your wife.
- [Jewel] I can't remember that.
It's nice for you
to tell me again.
It's nice to
remember and recall.
A lot of people think
I can't remember,
but I can remember quite a bit.
(speaking Jamaican)
(baby crying)
You haven't got a camera.
- No.
- No?
Would you like to
borrow this one?
- Yeah, that'd be nice.
- You can take pictures
of your journey.
- That'd be nice.
- I'll show you how to use it.
But you can cook for me.
- All right.
- Okay.
(baby crying)
(playful music with man singing)
(spurring drum)
(African dance
beat with singing)
(exotic tones beat)
- 30 bits of lovely cabbage.
50 a pound broc.
50 a pound, a lovely
bit of broccoli there.
Pick it up any way you like.
50 a pound broc.
30 bits a bit of cabbage.
50 a pound broc.
50 a pound, a nice
bit of broccoli.
Come and get 'em.
50 a pound broc.
30 bits a bit of cabbage, here.
30 bits cabbage.
(exotic tones with
wind instruments)
19 'til the 12, '91.
One love.
Hope you are keeping well.
Jewel and Connie
send love for you,
and wishes you a
joyful Christmas.
Fifth is not the
date of Christ but,
but as is the tradition
of the Roman culture.
Best wishes.
I'll be sending you some money.
I sold the (unrecognizable)
I met a brother here,
who is making a trip
to North Africa,
and offered to take me along,
if I would like to go,
so I decided to go with him.
His name is Reiner.
I feel comfortable
going with him.
So, keep well, until I come.
Say love to my friends
and virgin for me.
I close it, love. Dad.
A whole lot of land gone.
Elizabeth the Second.
(exotic tones)
- [Jewel] Well.
- Yes, you.
- [Jewel] Yes, it's
great seeing you again.
- You know?
- It's a shame you couldn't
be here for Christmas,
but we'll see you
in a few weeks time,
a few days, yeah.
- One love, you know.
Bye.
- Bye.
- All right.
You know?
- [Jewel] See you guys.
- See you.
- And have a nice Christmas.
- And you.
Right, we'll see you soon.
Bye-bye.
(starts car)
Bye.
Bye.
(exotic tones)
- This time I can't really rest.
(bluesy harmonica)
- What got you to Jamaica?
- I have a present
for you, yeah, yeah?
You know, to remember me.
- Yeah.
Yeah, man.
So, one day we take a trip.
And I have your
address all right.
One love.
(speaking Jamaican)
- Bring him safe
to the border, huh?
You take care of him.
All right.
- Why your hair like this?
- It's a ancient
tradition, you know?
Ancient. Old in time.
- Yeah.
- Old in time, you know?
People in olden days
didn't trim their hair.
They allow it to grow, you know?
- Yeah, I know. I know.
I know.
- I don't know if
you know the Bible.
Bible. A book.
From olden days.
You know?
We are, the Creator say man
shouldn't trim, you know?
And he shouldn't shave
his beard, you know?
So I and I, as Rastafari.
This is our tradition, you know?
Like olden days, you know?
So, that's why I grow
my hair like that.
- Where are you going?
- Want to reach Ghana.
- Ghana?
- You know?
- Yeah, yeah.
- Yeah, man.
I been to all the
earth, you know?
Jamaica's warm. Sunlight.
So, you know, most of the
slaves left from Ghana
across to Caribbean.
Jamaica in the Caribbean.
Beautiful scenery, man.
(exotic music)
- This is your picture?
Bob Marley.
(exotic music)
(people singing)
- You will get some lions.
Then the elephants, too.
- In Ghana?
- Yeah.
(singing)
Airi, Makiba. One love.
The journey will soon be done.
I traveled until I reach Ghana.
I was warmly welcomed,
so I am comfortable
being here with them.
I'm writing from the
village of Boko Rantomi.
There is so much to say,
but when I come and I will talk.
Give my love to
your mother for me.
Until then, one love.
Yes.
Yeah, man.
Just writing a few lines.
My children.
Yeah, man.
It's a good while long
since I leave, you know?
Four months now, four weeks now.
- Are they girls?
- This is a boy,
and this is a girl.
- Their names?
- Airi.
Makiba.
- I've got one man
here called Makiba.
- Makiba really
come from Africa,
so I like the name, and
I give her the name.
Because I have the two of
them from four years old.
Bring them up, send
them to school.
Their mother and I separated.
- Why?
- Because my luck, my way
is, you know, different,
and she realized that
she couldn't live
to suit my ways.
(cheering)
It's a long story!
* It's a long story
You know, it's a long story.
It's a long story.
* It's a long story
* Jamaican
(speaking foreign language)
(exotic tones)
- I like it.
- You like it?
- Yes.
Yeah, man.
When I'm going back to Jamaica,
there be something like this.
Yeah, man.
Some evenings, I walk
out, turn around.
Yeah, man. Thank you.
Yeah, man.
Yes, you bring water for me.
How you spend your day today?
- How I spend my day?
Tell me you change
your mind before I go,
or before you go.
Yes, okay.
- Bye.
(exotic tones)
- You have the
privilege to drink
from the water of Africa.
- If you want to eat this now,
you take one, and peel it.
You peel all the skin.
And then it's ready to eat.
I'm nice for that.
- Lord have mercy.
You would eat this
in (unrecognizable)
- Sometimes I mix it with sugar,
and take the banana leaf,
wrap it and tie it,
drop it in the pot and boil it,
and I call it dakonu.
- We have the same style,
but this one is the
traditional food,
but a style you show
is being eaten in
the fancy areas.
The fancy is like the
way you're doing it.
(exotic music with singing)
- You are missing stuff.
- Heh?
- Wake up.
We have reached the seashore.
Wake up.
Look at the sea, brother.
- And this is where
the (unrecognizable)
That building over there
was used as (unrecognizable)
(unrecognizable)
(exotic music with singing)
(musical aura)
- [Voiceover]
Everything's like a bell
that won't stop ringing.
- [Voiceover] Effective
relief from those sounds
and ringing headaches.
Get the headache medicine.
Get new Excedrin,
the extra-strength
pain-reliever.
Excedrin.
(radio music)
- [Voiceover] Left-wing
politics in Jamaica
is now faced with
a new challenge,
as the worker's party in Jamaice
is in danger of collapsing.
(unrecognizable) the new party
is having serious
financial problems,
and is finding it
increasingly difficult
to pay its recurrent expenses.
(unrecognizable)
also understands
that party members
are now advocating.
(shouting)
- Exercise.
Exercise.
94.
(speaking foreign language)
In Germany.
Very difficult.
- To believe?
- Must be
closed
by sunset.
Cars
must not be cleaned
on public holidays.
Or Sundays.
No washing may be hung out
on these days.
Children are not allowed to play
in the streets.
Our televisions and radio sets
must be turned on very low.
(exotic dance music)
- Our best friend,
(exotic dance music)
(exotic dance drums)
(exotic dance drums)
to get in contact with
(mumbling)
It is
great.
(exotic music)
- Ready?
- Application for a
Jamaican Passport.
For persons over
16 years of age.
Passport, Jamaica,
14711 Tree.
(laughing)
(harmonica)
(perplexing beat)
- Yeah, I remember coming over,
and I didn't like it at first.
So, how did you feel
about me coming over,
and you didn't?
- Well, I mean, I
missed you, yes,
because, you know, we
were all live together,
but,
(speaking Jamaican)
- Woman] But, would you
have liked to have come?
- Well, at that
time, yes, you know?
- Yeah, and, I mean,
how do people react,
'cause I was only little then.
I didn't know about me
being so different to you.
What were people
like about that.
- Well, I mean, in Jamaica,
life is like that.
You know, you have a
lot of family, you know?
You know, separated.
And then the next month,
a different set of
children come in.
- 'Cause you have to
explain that every time,
that we had the same mom.
Yeah, and you said you used
call me your white baby.
I didn't know that.
- When you are smiling,
I have to be around,
you know?
(speaking Jamaican)
I love children for a long time.
- I noticed that.
You're very good with children,
and I remember the times
we used to spend together.
I remember dancing, and
you used to put my feet
on your feet, and pretend
I was dancing with you.
- And the boys, know
what used to say?
How it? Get like your wife.
- [Jewel] I can't remember that.
It's nice for you
to tell me again.
It's nice to
remember and recall.
A lot of people think
I can't remember,
but I can remember quite a bit.
(speaking Jamaican)
(baby crying)
You haven't got a camera.
- No.
- No?
Would you like to
borrow this one?
- Yeah, that'd be nice.
- You can take pictures
of your journey.
- That'd be nice.
- I'll show you how to use it.
But you can cook for me.
- All right.
- Okay.
(baby crying)
(playful music with man singing)
(spurring drum)
(African dance
beat with singing)
(exotic tones beat)
- 30 bits of lovely cabbage.
50 a pound broc.
50 a pound, a lovely
bit of broccoli there.
Pick it up any way you like.
50 a pound broc.
30 bits a bit of cabbage.
50 a pound broc.
50 a pound, a nice
bit of broccoli.
Come and get 'em.
50 a pound broc.
30 bits a bit of cabbage, here.
30 bits cabbage.
(exotic tones with
wind instruments)
19 'til the 12, '91.
One love.
Hope you are keeping well.
Jewel and Connie
send love for you,
and wishes you a
joyful Christmas.
Fifth is not the
date of Christ but,
but as is the tradition
of the Roman culture.
Best wishes.
I'll be sending you some money.
I sold the (unrecognizable)
I met a brother here,
who is making a trip
to North Africa,
and offered to take me along,
if I would like to go,
so I decided to go with him.
His name is Reiner.
I feel comfortable
going with him.
So, keep well, until I come.
Say love to my friends
and virgin for me.
I close it, love. Dad.
A whole lot of land gone.
Elizabeth the Second.
(exotic tones)
- [Jewel] Well.
- Yes, you.
- [Jewel] Yes, it's
great seeing you again.
- You know?
- It's a shame you couldn't
be here for Christmas,
but we'll see you
in a few weeks time,
a few days, yeah.
- One love, you know.
Bye.
- Bye.
- All right.
You know?
- [Jewel] See you guys.
- See you.
- And have a nice Christmas.
- And you.
Right, we'll see you soon.
Bye-bye.
(starts car)
Bye.
Bye.
(exotic tones)
- This time I can't really rest.
(bluesy harmonica)
- What got you to Jamaica?
- I have a present
for you, yeah, yeah?
You know, to remember me.
- Yeah.
Yeah, man.
So, one day we take a trip.
And I have your
address all right.
One love.
(speaking Jamaican)
- Bring him safe
to the border, huh?
You take care of him.
All right.
- Why your hair like this?
- It's a ancient
tradition, you know?
Ancient. Old in time.
- Yeah.
- Old in time, you know?
People in olden days
didn't trim their hair.
They allow it to grow, you know?
- Yeah, I know. I know.
I know.
- I don't know if
you know the Bible.
Bible. A book.
From olden days.
You know?
We are, the Creator say man
shouldn't trim, you know?
And he shouldn't shave
his beard, you know?
So I and I, as Rastafari.
This is our tradition, you know?
Like olden days, you know?
So, that's why I grow
my hair like that.
- Where are you going?
- Want to reach Ghana.
- Ghana?
- You know?
- Yeah, yeah.
- Yeah, man.
I been to all the
earth, you know?
Jamaica's warm. Sunlight.
So, you know, most of the
slaves left from Ghana
across to Caribbean.
Jamaica in the Caribbean.
Beautiful scenery, man.
(exotic music)
- This is your picture?
Bob Marley.
(exotic music)
(people singing)
- You will get some lions.
Then the elephants, too.
- In Ghana?
- Yeah.
(singing)
Airi, Makiba. One love.
The journey will soon be done.
I traveled until I reach Ghana.
I was warmly welcomed,
so I am comfortable
being here with them.
I'm writing from the
village of Boko Rantomi.
There is so much to say,
but when I come and I will talk.
Give my love to
your mother for me.
Until then, one love.
Yes.
Yeah, man.
Just writing a few lines.
My children.
Yeah, man.
It's a good while long
since I leave, you know?
Four months now, four weeks now.
- Are they girls?
- This is a boy,
and this is a girl.
- Their names?
- Airi.
Makiba.
- I've got one man
here called Makiba.
- Makiba really
come from Africa,
so I like the name, and
I give her the name.
Because I have the two of
them from four years old.
Bring them up, send
them to school.
Their mother and I separated.
- Why?
- Because my luck, my way
is, you know, different,
and she realized that
she couldn't live
to suit my ways.
(cheering)
It's a long story!
* It's a long story
You know, it's a long story.
It's a long story.
* It's a long story
* Jamaican
(speaking foreign language)
(exotic tones)
- I like it.
- You like it?
- Yes.
Yeah, man.
When I'm going back to Jamaica,
there be something like this.
Yeah, man.
Some evenings, I walk
out, turn around.
Yeah, man. Thank you.
Yeah, man.
Yes, you bring water for me.
How you spend your day today?
- How I spend my day?
Tell me you change
your mind before I go,
or before you go.
Yes, okay.
- Bye.
(exotic tones)
- You have the
privilege to drink
from the water of Africa.
- If you want to eat this now,
you take one, and peel it.
You peel all the skin.
And then it's ready to eat.
I'm nice for that.
- Lord have mercy.
You would eat this
in (unrecognizable)
- Sometimes I mix it with sugar,
and take the banana leaf,
wrap it and tie it,
drop it in the pot and boil it,
and I call it dakonu.
- We have the same style,
but this one is the
traditional food,
but a style you show
is being eaten in
the fancy areas.
The fancy is like the
way you're doing it.
(exotic music with singing)
- You are missing stuff.
- Heh?
- Wake up.
We have reached the seashore.
Wake up.
Look at the sea, brother.
- And this is where
the (unrecognizable)
That building over there
was used as (unrecognizable)
(unrecognizable)
(exotic music with singing)