Iyana Reeves
Staff Writer
Spoiler Alert!!
The highly anticipated music biopic on the late great Bob Marley was released on Feb. 14, the day of love. So far, reviews and critics are praising the positive storytelling in the movie.
The movie, “Bob Marley: One Love”, details the life of Marley’s from 1976-1978. Marley, played by the 38-year-old British actor Kingsley Ben-Adir, is faced with adversity while trying to push a message of peace and love.
The opening scenes give a brief introduction into what was going on in Kingston, Jamaica in 1976. At the time, there was a political party war going head-to-head between two political leaders, causing chaos and mayhem in the streets.
Riots, looting, police brutality, gang related incidents, and more filled the city of Kingston. Marley, who was already seen as a huge figure in reggae music at the time, decided to put on a free concert to welcome peace back into Kingston, Jamaica.
On the eve of the concert, several men entered Marley’s house in an attempted assassination leaving him, his manager, his wife Rita, and others wounded. Bob Marley would still perform at the concert before ultimately deciding to leave Jamaica with his band out of fear for their safety.
While in London, the movie shows us how Marely was an active person enjoying jogging and soccer, but he was also there on business, looking to take his sound in a new direction.
Bob Marley and the Wailers would join forces with a guitarist who had worked with R&B legend Stevie Wonder, and start working on their debut album titled, “Exodus”.
The audience would see the behind-the-scenes process of creating this new sound for the album and the songwriting, as well as the making of the album cover.
Through all this, we get a glimpse into Marley’s personal life at the time showcased by a heated argument with wife Rita over infidelity and affairs on both ends.
There is also an altercation with their manager Don, who was laundering from them. At the time Marley’s health was declining and it was discovered that he had skin cancer, but he still refused any medical attention because of his religion.
That did not stop Marley from finally deciding to return to Jamaica in 1978 to put on the One Love concert. The concert became an historic event for Jamaica as it helped make the two opposing political parties come together for the night in a handshake.
All throughout the movie, we are given flashbacks from Marley’s childhood. From his mother working to stay afloat and his father walking out of his life, to meeting Rita and her introducing him to the Rastafari religion. Also, a look at when Bob Marley and the Wailers, previously known as just the Wailing Wailers, first audition for a Jamaican record label.
While the credits of the cast and crew rolled at the end of the movie, real life clips and footage of the Marley performing at the One Love concert and some with his children is shown. There were also other clips of him being on tour and a vlog of one of his days while living in London.
This movie was a masterpiece showcasing Marley in a time of trying to spread peace and love, not only for his people but also for the world. If you are a fan of Marley, his legacy, his music with the Wailers, or reggae music in general, then this is the movie for you.
