Bob Marley: One Love Movie Premiere (No Spoilers!)

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by Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle

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;
Live for others, and you will live again.”

– Bob Marley

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.

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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.

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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.

Bob Marley statue at Trench Town Culture Yard

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?

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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!

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Rochelle | Adventuresfromelle

Adventures from Elle is a travel blog for locals & visitors who want to experience the best of Jamaica, one adventure at a time. The blog is curated by Dr. Rochelle Knight, an internal medicine specialist and published author. She began the blog in 2016 as a medical student & wants to see the world, starting with her home country. Purchase her book 'SIGHTSEE JAMAICA' on Amazon and join her in Jamaica!

36 thoughts on “Bob Marley: One Love Movie Premiere (No Spoilers!)”

  2. I think it’s great that the production team involved Marley’s family and shot many scenes/had the premier in Jamaica. I will be looking forward to seeing this movie if it premiers in our cinemas here and I hope to see some stunning shots of Jamaica in it!

    PS: It’s cool to have one of the actors featured in the movie on your blog and even cooler that his scene made the final cuts! 🙂 Congratulations, Harry!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I think so too. I really hope they show it in your cinemas, and I have a strong feeling they will given the strong ties we have to Africa. There were some great shots of Jamaica, but most were shot in his community which isn’t the most glamorous 😅 however, I won’t give away anything else. Thanks for reading! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Hello Rochelle. Greetings from London. Was there a scene in the movie with a Doctor giving Bob the bad news about his cancer diagnosis? I played the Doctor, but i don’t know if the scene made the final cut! Lovely article, thanks. I saw Bob and the band play in London in 1977, a life-changing concert, utterly inspiring. Reggae music is so much a part of my life ever since seeing the Wailers play live. Being involved in this movie means the world to me. Best Wishes, Harry

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Hi Harry! I had no idea my blog post would make it to the eyes of any of the actors! I’m humbled, and yes, your scene made it!!! 🙂 Congratulations on being part of such an awesome production.

      I would’ve loved to see Bob Marley live but at least I’ve got to see several of his children and grandchildren live in concert, as his music and message lives on through them. Reggae music is absolutely life changing. I’m so happy to hear that it has positively impacted your life too. One love, Rochelle.

      Liked by 1 person

    2. Thank you Rochelle for this lovely reply! My wife and i visiting are JA in late February, and if the movie is still showing we will make it our mission find the cinema and watch it on Bob’s home turf! best wishes, Harry

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Awesome! This movie definitely makes Jamaicans proud! I’m usually wary of foreign actors playing a different nationality’s role (especially in Asian-lead films where a Chinese actress plays a Japanese geisha, *ahem Memoirs of a Geisha *ahem). But at the very least, the actors in One Love are of Jamaican descent, so close enough. If you enjoyed it, that’s all that matters!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I think it’s close enough too! And unfortunately the movie wasn’t scripted by us so I’m not sure how much say we could have in controlling who gets chosen for the cast. But it’s terrible when candidates of that nationality are available but get sidestepped for foreigners. However, as you said, this case is a little different. Thanks for reading! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  9. Cue the Junior Gong song quote…. Excellent 👍 I absolutely have no issues with foreign actors. It shows diversity (in my opinion) additionally, they have some levels of Jamaican connection which is good. I’m here for the inclusion and mixture and that Jamaicans were given the opportunity. Keeping an authentic feel to it. This could not have been launched in a better place and time. (Reggae and birth month).

    He would have been proud I feel. Oh and to know that people who were there with him on his journey were also apart of it and see it get off the ground is AMAZING. I hope I get the chance to see it 🤞

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I can understand to an extent where the naysayers are coming from in the sense that Jamaica has become a brand from which locals are shut out of the profits. Or, another analogy, that Jamaica is a pie from which big nations get slices and we the locals are left with the crumbs, if any at all. However, I don’t think that’s the case here. His family (Jamaicans) are co-producers. I’m sure they and their lawyers would’ve ensured they took home a decent slice of the pie too. So, Jamaicans have benefited and will continue to benefit from this movie. And if the best actors from the audition happen to have been foreign, well let them have the role. 🙂 I agree that the launch time was perfect! I’m glad it wasn’t on his birthday too as that’s already a big concert day.

      I hope you get to see it Richelle! It’s a great movie. Thanks for reading! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  10. The movie was inspiring! The actors did well in portraying the characters and the script was excellent, educational,historical yet infused with humour! Congratulations to the production team! A must see when it opens on February 14th,2024.

    Liked by 2 people

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