Rebel Dread

★★★★ Dir: William E Badgley HINDSIGHT MEDIA. ST

Fascinating portrait of a Zelig of the ’70s. Despite being the butt on social media of unkind jibes (envious?) about his ready availability whenever a punk doc is made, as this profile makes clear Don Letts walked it then like he talks it now. He occupies a unique position in British culture, weaving a path that begins with Tommy-era Who, takes in soul, racism, Rasta, Lou Reed, being a confidant of Strummer and Lydon, hanging with Bob Marley, his legendary Beatles collection… “He was into that Bowie shit,” says big brother Desmond dismissively. “I was never this choosing-sides guy,” he counters. Much is made, rightfully, of the importance to his cultural mobility of girlfriend Jeannette Lee – “She just plain outgrew me” – but it’s Letts’ ability to always find his own angle that endears him to one and all. His closing words here should be our mantra.