Tanya Batson-Savage, Freelance Writer

Almost Heaven, directed by Ed Herzog, is one of the films set to premiere at the 2006 Flashpoint Film Festival next month, when the video lights will be turned on at The Caves, Negril.

The show, however, falls far from a heavenly experience. It is, at best, a case of the good, the bad and 'oh my God, not again'.

That third element is why, despite being an interesting story with a good performance by lead actress Heike Makatsch, Almost Heaven makes a good argument as to why the Caribbean needs to be more active in telling its own stories. It is yet another of those movies which attempts to further cement Jamaica in its past so that it appears to be the place that progress forgot.

Stilted image of Jamaica

The image Almost Heaven paints of Jamaica is not altogether untrue, it is simply very stilted, becoming another volley in the celluloid game where the Caribbean is pictured either as tourist haven or third-world backwater. Almost Heaven chooses the third-world backwater image and the elements that it chooses to show makes it hard to believe that Jamaica has stuck even a big toe in the 21st century.

Co-written by Ed and Paul Herzog, the film is the story of Helen Schuster, a German woman who becomes an unwilling and accidental tourist in Jamaica. Death is knocking on Helen's door and just before she answers it, her life long dream of singing in Nashville creeps through her window. In defiance of her husband and doctors, Helen attempts to make her way to Nashville but instead ends up in Kingston. There she becomes easy prey for the hardened and streetwise Rosie (Nikki Amuka Bird).

Plethora of local actors

As with most movies filmed in Jamaica, Almost Heaven features a plethora of Jamaican actors in bit roles. Carl Bradshaw (The Harder They Come and Smile Orange), however, is featured in a supporting role as Leach. Though this is not the largest role under his belt, it is particularly rewarding to see Bradshaw in this role, as it takes him far away from the stereotype he occasionally falls in and shows a nuanced depth to his acting that is not often revealed.

Shortcomings aside, Almost Heaven is an interesting enough flick that is unlikely to either wow or terribly bore. The Flashpoint Film Festival takes place December 1-3 at the Caves in the West End, Negril. Other films slated to be shown at the festival include Perry Henzell's sophomore effort No Place Like Home and the documentary piece of rap music in Cuba, east of Havana.

Shortcomings aside, 'Almost Heaven' is an interesting enough flick that is unlikely to either wow or terribly bore.