Loving BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE

On Valentine’s Day, February 14, biopic BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE was released in theatres worldwide. The film briefly covers the singer’s life from 1976 to 1978 with the creation of some of his most famous songs, his belief in Rastafarianism, the assassination attempt on his life, and his wish to unify Jamaica through music.

I became a Bob Marley fan through my father. I was nervous about how this film would portray him. Initially, I was excited having seen the trailers for the film on Instagram. However, scrolling through TikTok and hearing others not sharing love for the film, I felt uncertainty. 

Some Jamaicans came to TikTok saying not to watch the movie, upset about the actor playing him, Kingsley Ben-Adir, because he is British. Some people say Ziggy Marley should have played his father in the film since he naturally looks and sounds like him. Others say it doesn’t show enough representation of Jamaica or Rastafarianism. Some negative reviews the film has received say they make him out to be similar to a messiah.

But others’ opinions and thoughts should not hinder one from watching the film. It is worth a watch. The Marley family had a hand in making the film. So, I wanted to watch it and form my own opinion.

Overall, I’d give the film a 7/10. It was not as bad as some people make it out to be. Bob Marley was indeed more than just a musician to the people of Jamaica. However, he was just a humble musician with a message he wanted to convey through his music. Viewers asked: Why do we not see much of Jamaica? Why is there so little explanation about his popularising Rastafarianism? Why are his political views unclear? Why did he cheat on his wife, Rita? Why couldn’t this have been a mini series instead? 

Well, the movie is about him specifically. It is called BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE; his one love was his music and what he could accomplish with it. 

The film only covers what happened to him between 1976-1978. During this time, we see the assassination attempt on Marley, a bit of the Smile Jamaica concert, and then the time he spends in England writing songs before returning to Jamaica for another free concert to encourage unity. While I do feel the film was a tad bit rushed and ended abruptly, I enjoyed learning some things about his life I didn’t already know. 

Ben-Adir’s acting skills were average to me. I believe he did a great job with speech, but when it came to movements and dancing around you could tell he was acting as opposed to becoming the character he’s portraying. From the live videos I’ve seen of Bob Marley’s performances, he wasn’t always hopping around—although I was surprised to see he really moved like that. Oftentimes, he was also playing the guitar, which we only see Ben-Adir do offstage. 

In regards to the speech and Jamaican accents, I believe they were done well. Some complained there should’ve been subtitles for the accents, which I personally think is an offensive request. If subtitles were added, it would make it seem like they aren’t speaking English. But, they are speaking English. 

For me, although I did have some difficulty understanding them at times, I find that the addition of subtitles would have been dehumanising and insulting to the Jamaican people. 

My last and final comments: it was not the intention of the filmmakers and creative team to make him appear like a messiah. Of course it can come across that way, as the film intends to preserve and glorify his legacy, as most celebrity biopics do. It is also indeed worth glorifying. 

He was a significant person in Jamaica’s history and his story is worth telling. But, you can only tell so much in a two-hour film. 

Had all subjects associated with him been covered, the film would probably span 10 hours. Besides, most everyone knows he was a Rasta.  Not everyone knows he cheated on his wife or that she also had her own affairs, but is that really an important part of his life to be covered in this film? 

Respectfully, especially to fellow island girls on TikTok disappointed after this discovery, most Caribbean men cheat. It is a known fact. It is not admirable, but we are more than just our mistakes. Bob Marley is certainly more than his many affairs. His love life shouldn’t stop you from listening to his music.

Think back to the final clips of the film when they showed real clips of Marley, particularly him having opposite political party leaders shake hands on stage before him at his concert. 

That is what this film is about, that is what is remarkable, and that idea of unity and love is what Bob Marley himself wanted to get across. This is what his family wanted us to gather from this film. If you failed to see that, I’m not sure you are a Bob Marley fan.