In 1972 the film The Harder They Come was released at the Venice Film Festival, and later New York City. Those are very tough markets for film and theater, so it comes as no surprise that a move emerging from a developing nation like Jamaica was not given much attention. The soundtrack achieved international success, and is considered the breakthrough album for reggae music outside of Jamaica and Britain.
The Harder They Come is a true story based on the life of a Jamaican man who became famous during the 1940's, Rhyging. Internationally acclaimed reggae artist Jimmy Cliff plays the role of Rhyging, but in the film the character's name is Ivanhoe Martin. His girlfriend, Elsa, is played by Janet Bartley. A friend and neighbor is played by Beverly Anderson, who in real life went on to marry the fourth Prime Minister of Jamaica Michael Manely. Two well-known Jamaican comedians were also in the cast, Ed 'Bim' Lewis and Aston 'Bam' Winter.
The story begins with Ivanhoe Martin living in poverty in Kingston and busily seeking work. Having moved to the big city from remote farmland, Martin finds himself becoming friends with all sorts of people. Yet it is his natural talent for music that finally lands him a job, as a reggae singer in a bar. He writes his own songs, and is permitted to sing them at the bar. Of course this is where he is eventually heard by members of the recording industry. Feeling encouraged by his new connections, Martin writes a full album and is already to start recording. Unfortunately the record producers demand he sign over his rights to his music for recording to take place. Martin refuses and is once again left jobless.
Feeling down and useless, one of Martin's new Kingston friends offers him a job selling marijuana. He sees no alternative and takes the job, permanently abandoning his musical aspirations and choosing a life of crime. The film continues on documenting the violence of the drug trade during the 1940's with Martin as the center character, but ends abruptly with his demise in a hail of bullets.
While the drug trade in Jamaica is no longer so widespread, the film does give the viewer an excellent insight into the cultural and political struggles of the country. Jobs are hard to find outside of the tourist industry, thus the resort towns of Morant Bay and Ocho Rios have great importance to the national economy. Through conservation, education and maintenance, the natural environment in Jamaica also offers unique job creation opportunities. Coffee, sugar cane and banana plantations provide employment as well, but on a smaller scale.
In other words, the kind of life Rhyging struggled with is tragic, but changing. Young people coming to the big city in search of work are not destined for crime, they have more choice now. Choice in agriculture, tourism, technology and so on. Now, The Harder They Come can be categorized as a historical film.
The Harder They Come is a true story based on the life of a Jamaican man who became famous during the 1940's, Rhyging. Internationally acclaimed reggae artist Jimmy Cliff plays the role of Rhyging, but in the film the character's name is Ivanhoe Martin. His girlfriend, Elsa, is played by Janet Bartley. A friend and neighbor is played by Beverly Anderson, who in real life went on to marry the fourth Prime Minister of Jamaica Michael Manely. Two well-known Jamaican comedians were also in the cast, Ed 'Bim' Lewis and Aston 'Bam' Winter.
The story begins with Ivanhoe Martin living in poverty in Kingston and busily seeking work. Having moved to the big city from remote farmland, Martin finds himself becoming friends with all sorts of people. Yet it is his natural talent for music that finally lands him a job, as a reggae singer in a bar. He writes his own songs, and is permitted to sing them at the bar. Of course this is where he is eventually heard by members of the recording industry. Feeling encouraged by his new connections, Martin writes a full album and is already to start recording. Unfortunately the record producers demand he sign over his rights to his music for recording to take place. Martin refuses and is once again left jobless.
Feeling down and useless, one of Martin's new Kingston friends offers him a job selling marijuana. He sees no alternative and takes the job, permanently abandoning his musical aspirations and choosing a life of crime. The film continues on documenting the violence of the drug trade during the 1940's with Martin as the center character, but ends abruptly with his demise in a hail of bullets.
While the drug trade in Jamaica is no longer so widespread, the film does give the viewer an excellent insight into the cultural and political struggles of the country. Jobs are hard to find outside of the tourist industry, thus the resort towns of Morant Bay and Ocho Rios have great importance to the national economy. Through conservation, education and maintenance, the natural environment in Jamaica also offers unique job creation opportunities. Coffee, sugar cane and banana plantations provide employment as well, but on a smaller scale.
In other words, the kind of life Rhyging struggled with is tragic, but changing. Young people coming to the big city in search of work are not destined for crime, they have more choice now. Choice in agriculture, tourism, technology and so on. Now, The Harder They Come can be categorized as a historical film.
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