REGGAE AND RASTAFARI

BHOLLYWOOD MOVIE REVIEW: BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE

Biopic Starring: Kingsley Ben-adir, Lashana Lynch, James Norton

ob Marley: One Love is a 2024 American biographical drama musical film based on the life of reggae singer and songwriter Bob Marley, played by Kingsley Ben-adir, from his rise to fame in the mid-1970s up until his death in 1981.

The film is directed by

Reinaldo Marcus Green, who cowrote the screenplay with Terence Winter, Frank E. Flowers, and Zach Baylin. It also stars Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley, and James Norton as Chris Blackwell.

Bobmarley:onelove premiered at the Carib 5 in Kingston, Jamaica on January 23 and was released in the United States by Paramount Pictures on February 14. It received mixed reviews from critics and has grossed Us$160mn worldwide.

The plot is set in 1976, amidst armed political conflict affecting daily life in Jamaica, when Bob Marley announces he will perform at a concert, Smile Jamaica, promoting peace amongst the warring factions. While preparing for the concert, Marley, his wife Rita, and several other members of his band are shot by assailants.

Rita and Marley are hospitalised, but survive and recover from their injuries in time for the concert. After performing, Marley, saddened that his own countrymen would try to kill him and his wife, shows the crowd his bullet wounds before walking off stage. He tells Rita to take their children to Delaware in the United States and stay with his mom, as he and the rest of his band venture to London.

After struggling to come up with a new album concept, Marley asks Rita to rejoin him and the band in England, and taking inspiration from the soundtrack of the film Exodus and their own situation, he and the band begin recording what would become their album of the same name.

The album becomes a hit and helps further popularise reggae music and the Rastafari movement around the world. When the recording company schedules a tour in Europe, Marley also aims for stops throughout Africa. This leads to friction with Rita as she and Marley argue about responsibilities and infidelities.

The movie aims to celebrate the life of an icon who inspired generations through his message of love and unity. Bob’s powerful story of overcoming adversity is unveiled for the first time on the big screen. However, the biopic appears devoid of any perspective or originality.

Enumerating a long list of musical origin stories, it seems to be designed to sell new pressings of former hits, rather than tell a compelling story of the singer.