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Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande
12A

Cymande are the greatest band you’ve likely never heard of, and this is their incredible untold story.

Documentary • Biography

Formed in south London by musicians who came to the UK from the Caribbean as part of the Windrush generation and led by Patrick Patterson (guitar) and Steve Scipio (bass), they combined jazz, funk, soul and Caribbean grooves to create a new sound.

Despite finding success in the US with their first three brilliant albums they faced indifference through prejudice at home, became disillusioned and disbanded in 1975. But their music lived on as new generations of artists, in the UK and the US discovered, sampled and reworked their pioneering sounds, taking their music to new audiences.

Illustrated with archival footage, the story of these unsung heroes is told on screen through new interviews with the original band members filmed over two years.

Details

Duration

1hr 30mins

Director

Tim MacKenzie-Smith

Distributor

British Film Institute (BR4026)

Featuring

Masta Ace • Jazzie B • Cut Chemist

Year

2022

Country of origin

United Kingdom

Language

English

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Guidance unavailable

Content guidance

Racism • Violence

“Getting It Back: The Story of Cymande, debut feature film from British director Tim Mackenzie-Smith, is an absolute riot of fun and funk.”
Filmhounds Magazine

“Not only does Getting it Back: The Story of Cymande have such a charismatic, positive and enthusiastic atmosphere, it has an emotional undercurrent. It’s incredibly engaging to watch, the band members are humble, talented and charming.”
Film Carnage

“This documentary is an education and a good-news story about the remarkable 70s British funk band Cymande (the word is a calypso term for “dove”) who should be as big as Earth Wind & Fire, but aren’t. Or at least not yet.”
The Guardian

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