| Shottas | |
|---|---|
Release Poster |
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| Directed by | Cess Silvera |
| Produced by | Jennifer Farrell Wyclef Jean Randall Emmett Fabien Pruvot Keith Deans Cess Silvera Norman Silvera |
| Written by | Cess Silvera Keith Deans |
| Starring | Ky-Mani Marley Spragga Benz Paul Campbell Louie Rankin |
| Music by | Stephen Marley |
| Cinematography | Cliff Charles |
| Editing by | Danny Saphire |
| Distributed by | Triumph Films Destination Films[1] |
| Release date(s) | 2002 (International) November 3, 2006 (U.S.) |
| Running time | 95 minutes |
| Country | Jamaica |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $200,000 |
Shottas is a 2002 Jamaican crime film about two young men who participate in organized crime in Kingston, Jamaica and Miami, Florida. It stars Kymani Marley, Spragga Benz, Paul Campbell and Louie Rankin and was written and directed by Cess Silvera. Despite its low budget, the distribution of an unfinished bootleg made it a cult favourite long before its official limited release in the United States by Triumph Films and Destination Films in 2006.
The film takes its name from a Jamaican term for gangsters.
Contents |
The film tells the story of two young men, Biggs (Errol) (Kymani Marley) and Wayne (Spragga Benz), who grow up together in the tough and dangerous streets of Kingston. They rob a soda truck and shoot the truck driver while they are still children.
The robbery money is used to purchase visas to go the United States, where they continue their criminal activities, hustling on the streets of Miami. Twenty years later, Biggs is then deported to Jamaica where Wayne and Mad Max (Paul Campbell), also deported, have continued their surge in crime, they begin to extort money from business people. After facing problems with the police and politicians, the two head back to Miami alongside Mad Max. Upon returning, they are informed that Miami has a new king, Teddy Bruck Shut (Louie Rankin). The three pay Teddy a visit to extort him. They extort, beat, and murder their way to the top of Miami before their dream ends in a brazen shoot out, during which Teddy's thugs kill Wayne and shoot Max. Biggs almost gets shot as he comforts Wayne at his deathbed, but Max shoots the assailant before it happens. After taking Max to the hospital, Biggs goes to Teddy's house and murders him, his bodyguard and his girlfriend. Biggs then takes all of Teddy's money and escapes in a boat.