DESCRIPTION:
By: Parine Jaddo (parinejaddo@yahoo.com)
Description
Rasta's Paradise is a fifty minute documentary film that combines music performances, informal improvisations, and interviews with Rastafarians during the 60th Birthday commemoration for Bob Marley in February 2005.
It is all shot in Ethiopia starting in the capital Addis Ababa and then travels to Shashamene, the land that was given by Emperor Haile Selassie to Diaspora Africans. The documentary is constructed of segments with "live" music from the concerts during the celebrations, some improvised music on the bus to Shashemene, and drumming from the Drums of Rasta, along with a collage of chats with many Rastafarians in Shashemene. In the film Rastafari ways are explained as well as the interconnections between the Diaspora blacks, Africa, origin of the movement, connections to the Jamaican black leader Marcus Garvey, and the reason for repatriation to Ethiopia. With the divinity of His Imperial Majesty Emperor HaileSelassie a central rallying point amongst the various groups within the Rastafarian family, they all insist on and the need for peace in the human family. From the ancients of the Nyabinghi Order, to Dr. Desta, the managing director of the Bob Marley Foundation, to artists musicians like Teddy Dan, a member of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, to Ras King of the Drums of Rastas, entrepreneurs like Shaft, the owner of the Rift Valley Hotel, and Rasta teachers at the Jamaica Rastafari Development Community School in Shashemene; there is one striking aspect the commitment to developing Africa, their devotion to living the Rastafari way of life, and their actively message of justice, peace and "One Love."

FILM MAKER'S BACKGROUND
Parine was born in Iraq to a professional and artistic family, however, they were forced to move frequently due to political turmoil in Middle East. After witnessing wars and revolution since three years old, Parine took advantage of the opportunity to study in the United States at the renown historic black institution, Howard University where shewas exposed to not only film education but Pan African identity.Parine was already sensitive to issues of human rights violation and annihilation through her growing years. After finishing her Masters in Film at Howard, she yearned to go home as wars escalated from the Gulf I to Gulf II and the after shocks that never seem to cease. With a new and strong perspective drawn from the African experience, Parine longed to return home to Iraq to help in some way change the conditions in her homeland.

INSPIRATION
Since the first time Parine heard Bob Marley, what she calls, "...like treble in my soul," she was anxious to know the meaning and origin of the lyrics. That is when Rastafari began to unfold for her. Traveling through "Exodus", "One Love", Get Up Stand Up", "War" she realized there was so much to know and even more to understand. She began her journey into Rastafari and their unique relationship with Ethiopia. The inspiration from the Movement brought her closer to the message of justice, peace and love. She was compelled to make a film that could expose the message and hopefully influence the human family. She also found a vehicle to help her people stay strong under the very terrible and present condition. Jaddo now found a way to help; hence she produced Rasta's Paradise a message of peaceful resistance from a heart of one love, where justice and reconciliation remain a reality to be achieved one day.