‘Jit’ (NR)

"Jit" is a jolly romance set in Zimbabwe to the irrepressible rhythms of jit-jive, a sweet-natured music with much the same heart pulse as reggae. Written and directed by Michael Raeburn, it's the first all-Zimbabwean feature as well as a somewhat rose-colored portrait of life in a modern South African town. Call it "The Softer They Come."

"Jit" stars Dominic Makuvachuma as the moderately ambitious country boy, U.K. (so named because his family and friends believe he will go far). U.K., who runs errands for his musician uncle, is struck by the beauty of Sofi (Sibongile Nene), a secretary at a record company. Later he cracks his head on the pavement after being pushed out of a taxi while defending Sofi from another passenger's harassment. When he comes to, the hovering Sofi is a luminous vision and U.K. decides he must marry her. When she scoffs and attributes his offer to the blow, U.K. sighs and says, "It's not my head, it's my heart."

Indeed it is, but it's his head that U.K. will have to rely on. By tradition, he must first deal with Sofi's father, Chamba (Lawrence Simbarashe), a materialistic factory foreman who sets a "bride price" so high -- a very expensive hi-fi system and refrigerator -- he's sure U.K. will never achieve it.

That's only one of U.K.'s hurdles. There's also Johnson (Farai Sevenzo), Sofi's short-tempered boyfriend and something of a shady entrepreneur. And the Jukwa (Winnie Ndemera), a feisty, Harvey-like ancestral chaperon who appears and disappears in the blink of an eye and who clearly wants U.K. to concentrate his energies on earning money for his rural family. Lucky for him, then, that the Jukwa is both earthy and spiritual -- with a penchant for beer and compromise.

Finally, there's Sofi, who is much the modern woman despite the marriage system. "Just because you've got the bride price doesn't mean you've got the bride," she warns the persistent U.K., even as her resistance is being tested by his tenacity and sweetness. He proves cleverly resilient at each roadblock thrown before him. His nonstop smile is obviously a self-assured one.

As U.K., Makuvachuma is charming in an understated manner only partly explained by the fact that when "Jit" was made, he was an accountant with limited theater experience. In fact, most in the cast are nonprofessional, but their work is solid throughout. Nene is now a drama student in London, but she already has tremendous presence as the moral, open-hearted Sofi. So does Oliver Mtukudzi as U.K.'s uncle Oliver, who performs his soul-style jit-jive in a local club on several occasions.

Jit is a Shona word for dancing and jumping up and down, but the music itself is built on a swaying and decidely infectious "feel good" groove. The result is a catchy score featuring such artists as the Bhundu Boys, Thomas Mapfumo and the Four Brothers.

"Jit" is a slice of Zimbabwe, a bright sunshine-splashed story with no goal but pleasure. Though director Raeburn occasionally follows convention -- there are several quick-motion slapstick episodes a la "The Gods Must Be Crazy" -- he usually lets his story unwind in an easygoing manner that seems appropriate.

"Jit" is unrated. It contains no cuss words or sex scenes.