One Hand Don't Clap
By Kit Macdonald
Electrifying and irresistible, Kavery Datta's documentary about calypso and soca music in Trinidad and Tobago has been much-loved since its release in 1988, and has now been given the 4K restoration and re-release treatment thanks to the Academy Film Archive and the Women's Film Preservation Fund. The film captures the finals of the 1986 Trinidad Calypso Monarch contest (the name had to be changed from Calypso King when Calypso Rose became the first woman to win it), where the defending champion, Black Stalin is trying to hold off the challenge of rising stars David Rudder and Duke.
The real stars of the film, however, are Rose and her mentor, the legendary Lord Kitchener, aka Aldwyn Roberts, who are in the crowd at the contest. Watching from the sidelines, they reflect on their lives and their love for their music, and through this plus performance footage and interviews, One Hand Don't Clap brilliantly illustrates that calypso is not just sizzling entertainment but also searing political commentary. Get down to Zumzeig for one of these screenings, and prepare to seat-dance.