Chris Flanagan

(On TV, January 2022) As someone who has spent far too much time on the Internet tracking down anything I could find on relatively minor artists from decades past, there’s something both fascinating and relatable in writer-director Chris Flanagan’s multi-year journey as described in his documentary Shella Record—A Reggae Mystery. The quest begins in a used record store, where Flanagan discovers a terrific 1970s reggae track from “Shella Record”—an otherwise unknown artist with no other known tracks, which is mind-boggling considering her exceptional vocal performance. Flanagan’s initial investigation takes him around Toronto, but trying to get more information from the record producers meets a dead-end. A lucky break from a radio show airing then sends him to Jamaica, where he makes a pilgrimage to some sacred places of reggae and digs through the wreckage of a fire-ravaged studio to find the song’s original recording. Along the way, he confirms that this Shella Records is really Sheila Rickards, a jazz singer whose post-Jamaica whereabouts are unknown. After this initial breakthrough, the search slows down: trips to New York City and Los Angeles bring some colour to the search, but produce few results. Finally, it takes a private investigator with an interest in the paranormal to provide the very satisfying third act that the film deserves. Footage captured throughout the multi-year quest is enlivened by material from Flanagan’s miniature work and (less satisfyingly) by dramatic re-creations of historical events. Still, the documentary is steadily engrossing, and the final stretch brings authentic closure to the mysteries raised by the film’s first hour. Flanagan makes for a likable protagonist, but it’s the twists and turns of the tale that make it memorable. Best of all, the documentary illustrates an even happier ending, with the now-fully credited song being republished on vinyl, digitally mastered and played around the world to a new audience. Give it a listen, and see if it makes you want to watch the film.