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!)”

  1. Upon hearing about the release of the new Bob Marley movie and waiting it, my initial reaction was brimming with curiosity and a sense of longing for a deeper exploration of his life. I couldn’t help but wonder why there wasn’t more—more insight into his background, more focus on his family dynamics. Perhaps, I mused, the film could have adopted a multi-series format akin to the intricate storytelling seen in “The Crown,” allowing for a thorough examination of Marley’s journey.

    However, as I delved deeper into the intentions behind the movie, a realization dawned upon me. This film wasn’t aiming to dissect every aspect of Marley’s personal life; rather, its primary focus lay on celebrating his music and the enduring legacy he left behind. It became evident that the family’s desire was to prioritize his musical contributions over delving into his private affairs.

    This revelation was accompanied by an understanding of the practical challenges faced by the filmmakers. A small budget and a scarcity of suitable actors in Jamaica posed significant hurdles. The dilemma between authenticity and acting ability loomed large—finding performers who could authentically embody Marley’s spirit while also delivering strong acting performances proved to be a daunting task.

    In the end, the decision-making process behind the direction of the film was undoubtedly arduous. Balancing the desires of the family, the constraints of the budget, and the need for authenticity in casting required careful consideration. Yet, despite the challenges, someone had to step up and make the tough decisions to bring Marley’s story to life on the screen.

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    1. It’s been mixed reviews in that some people aren’t happy since a lot of the cast is foreign. Others like myself are happy with the cast’s execution of bringing Bob and a bygone era to life very well. My partner + at least 1 friend who has seen the film so far shares my sentiments.

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