User reviews

"Soul Survivor," set in Toronto's Jamaican community, could have been a revealing film with an unusual setting. What it turns out to be is a routine street drama, with faded color, grainy photography, and stereotypical characterizations. It sheds no light on genuine human relationships among these people, only standard action-type fare with run-of-the-mill involvements. There is nothing new or enlightening about this drama, only more of the same. While the cast is talented, though not particularly attractive, it is limited by its mundane and unoriginal script and direction. In all, a disappointment.

The main interest of "Soul Survivor" is how it attracts you into a particular world, the world of Jamaican immigrants in Toronto. You can't call the plot enthralling, but it is interesting in showing some dilemmas and the real world of immigrants and children of immigrants for whom a place under the sun is not won beforehand in their new country.

Not a depressing film, though. Actually, the whole movie looks rather like a long music video, complete with excellent Jamaican music and a special colour and feeling for images. I would say that the plot, though not uninteresting, comes third.

One important problem is that I found the main character, Tyrone, to be the one with less depth. I especially liked Reuben, his cousin, the artist-type, would-be music star, always hopeful, idealist, trying to educate his Black brothers about their origins, but somewhat empty-headed. And George Harris makes very good pictures as Winston, too.

A 6 out of 10. For first the music, second the atmosphere, and third the plot.