Sarah Hunter’s music-filled documentary is a sharp and lively memento of the jazz-inflected Wellington reggae unit TrinityRoots, with fresh interviews and great footage of the band rehearsing, recording and performing.
Chronicling the history of TrinityRoots from their beginnings in the early 90s through to their 2005 farewell concert at the Wellington Town Hall.
Screened as part of NZIFF 2010
TrinityRoots, Music Is Choice 2010
Sarah Hunter’s music-filled documentary is a sharp and lively memento of the jazz-inflected Wellington reggae unit TrinityRoots. Lead singer/guitarist Warren Maxwell, Rio Hunuki-Hemopo and Riki Gooch formed TrinityRoots in the early 90s and sang their last of their plaintive, drifting three-way harmonies at the Wellington Town Hall in February 2005 in a sellout concert to raise relief funds for the Boxing Day Tsunami. In interviews shot soon after the break-up, the band members look back with unassuming pleasure and good humour on the way things usually came together for them – such things as two much appreciated albums, True and Home Land and Sea with its anthemic title track protesting the seabed and foreshore legislation and the purchase of land by overseas interests. The film draws on generous footage of the band rehearsing, recording and performing, along with friendly testimony from critics, collaborators and their mums. — BG