Bob Marley is one of the most famous Jamaicans of all time and his legacy lives on through his family and timeless music. Hailed as the King of Reggae, the Bob Marley: One Love movie celebrates his brief life from the humblest of beginnings in rural Jamaica and his eventual rise to superstardom. The movie was made in partnership with Hollywood producers and his family, and was shot in Jamaica and the UK. I was fortunate to win a fan ticket to this movie premiere via the Jamaica Observer, so here’s a review of the movie launch and why I believe this film is a must-see when it launches on February 14, 2024 in theatres worldwide. No spoilers, I promise!
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The Pre-Show at Carib 5
The movie premiere on January 23 was a huge success. It was attended by the movie’s cast and highly esteemed guests such as the Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Leader of Opposition and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Road closures around Cross Roads were instituted with parking available at the National Heroes Circle, and shuttles provided to and from.
Pre-show entertainment was provided by Bob’s grandchildren: Yohan, Zuri and Mystic Marley, and they all did really well. At this point, the Marleys are basically Jamaica’s royal family as the entire family is so talented! Of Bob’s eleven children, at least six went into music and four of his grandchildren so far have followed suit. “Di likkle Rasta man from Trench Town fly di gate!”
Yohan Marley 
Zuri & Mystic Marley on stage
“Live for yourself and you will live in vain;
– Bob Marley
Live for others, and you will live again.”
It wouldn’t be a Jamaican event without food, and the event was expertly sponsored and catered by Best Dressed Chicken, one of the island’s leading chicken suppliers. They served delicious soup, pan chicken and hard-dough bread, the typical Jamaican street food fare. We were kept hydrated with fruit juice and slushies by Tru-Juice, bottled water by WATA and the national lager, Red Stripe beer.
Movie Screening at Palace Cineplex
Movie show-time was at 9pm, and split between the five-screen cinema Carib-5 and the two-screen cinema Palace Cineplex in Sovereign, Liguanea. Both cinemas were closed to the public that day to facilitate this private viewing. On the big screen for the first time, Bob’s powerful story of overcoming adversity was depicted; from his rocky start in Nine Miles, St. Ann, to the gritty slums of Trench Town where he came of age, his eventual conversion to the Rastafari faith with help of Rita Marley who he later married in 1966, and of course his superstardom and the challenges it brought.
Bob Marley: One Love movie is rated PG-13
(MPAA official rating to be assigned).
The movie lasted 1 hour and 47 minutes, and I beamed with pride from start to finish. Certainly, there are a lot of lessons to be learnt from Bob Marley’s short 36 years on earth despite the obvious character flaws such as his infidelity. I’m happy that his story was told pretty authentically, leaving no stone unturned while not dwelling on the uncomfortable bits for too long.
Why I Believe The Movie Is A Must-See
Bob Marley: One Love is very inspiring and serves as a reminder that people can excel from any station in life with talent, hard work and discipline. For Jamaicans, the movie has even more meaning. I feel blessed to hail from a nation which has produced a superstar of this magnitude especially since he used his music as a vehicle to deliver a spiritual message of love and unity.
When the movie was first announced, the feedback was mixed with many Jamaicans feeling upset that foreign actors comprised majority of the cast. Despite the controversy, I believe the chosen actors did really well in executing their roles. I’m especially proud of Lashana Lynch, a British actress of Jamaican descent who played the role of Bob’s wife, Rita Marley, with feisty zest. Kingsley Ben-Adir, who played the role of Bob Marley, delivered pretty well too. Most of the actors are apparently British and their fake Jamaican accents sounded pretty believable for the most part. Sometimes the British accent slipped out but I found it comical more than anything else.
I find it admirable that they filmed a lot of the scenes in Jamaica and chose to host the launch here. The launch could’ve been held anywhere in the world. Just because of our negative experience with colonialism and neocolonialism in Jamaica means we have to be upset about the One Love movie cast. I see the movie as good publicity and a great look for the island moving forward. Who knows what doors this movie can open for Jamaica and Jamaicans worldwide?
Wrap Up
What are your thoughts about the Bob Marley: One Love movie? The film, despite controversy over foreign actors, is inspiring and sheds light on Marley’s enduring global impact. Will you be watching it on the big screen when it launches on February 14? Sound off in the comments section below!
If you liked this post, you may also enjoy:
- The Bob Marley Museum
- Reggae Month in Jamaica
- Is Kingston, Jamaica worth visiting?
- Where to get weekly live reggae in Kingston
- 8 Can’t-Miss Music Festivals in Jamaica
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