Gerald Wright's Movie Coverage
Panman, Rhythm of the Palms Movie Review
PANMAN, RHYTHM OF THE PALMS
Directed by: Sander Burger
Running time: 90 minutes
Genre: Drama and Music
Country: Netherlands Antilles/Holland
The talented Dutch director Sander Burger and Guyanese playwright, actor and screenplay writer of this film Ian Valz tell the fictional story of the rise and fall of steel drum pan player Harry Daniel (played by Ian Valz), a Caribbean icon whose personal life suffers when he places his music above his family, in order to pass the tradition of pan playing to the younger generation.
During this crusade to keep the music alive on his Island of St. Martin he takes a youngster named Jacko under his wing. Jacko (Gary gee Money Euton) becomes Harry's apprentice and the hope for the future of the music. Talented Jacko witnesses the change in the music and Harry's fame diminishes. Jacko decides to follow the electric rock music world and the two men part under unfavorable conditions.
The subplot in this musical narrative is Harry's family life. Harry's wife played by Rita Gumbs gives a brilliant performance as a dedicated wife who always finds herself being second to Harry's steel drum. It is not until Harry becomes seriously ill that his wife considers that part of a life with him is better than none. It is not until Harry's unexpected death that Jacko returns to his island and the pan drum culture to carry on Harry's legacy.
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