An Enduring Legacy at the Bob Marley: One Love Movie Screening
The air buzzed with anticipation as we joined the quickly growing line outside the theater, an eclectic mix of generations bound together by the imminent unveiling of Bob Marley's story. Looking around, we saw people old and young proudly sporting Rastafari colors of red, green, and gold, and Jamaican flags adorned earrings, T-shirts, shoes, caps, scarves, and even shoelaces. The queue continued to stretch around the corner was a testament to the influence of Bob Marley's music, message, and enduring legacy.
The Jamaican Museum and Cultural Center was proud to partner with Allied Global Marketing in promotion of the Bob Marley: One Love movie, to be released on Wednesday February 14, 2024. Last night, some of our board members attended a screening of the film, featuring Lashana Lynch as Rita Marley, James Norton as Chris Blackwell, and Kingsley Ben-Adir as Bob Marley himself.
Inside the dimly lit theater, laughter and excitement filled the air. Our host, Monie Love of the Atlanta radio station, Kiss 104.1, welcomed us as we settled into our seats and engaged in a lively game of Bob Marley trivia. The shared laughter and anticipation led our experience into the cinematic journey into the heart of Bob Marley’s story—a poignant reminder that, “Sometimes, the messenger has to become the message,” as we later heard Lashana Lynch declare as Rita Marley.
“Sometimes, the messenger has to become the message”
The film sets the stage for Bob Marley’s inward battles with childhood traumas and outward struggle to promote peace and unity for Jamaican people. The backdrop of political unrest and violence in a freshly independent Jamaica positions Bob Marley and the Wailers as unexpected stewards of peace, whose spiritual convictions guide them through various tests —a life-threatening shooting, challenges to friendships posed by financial tensions, trials within Bob and Rita's marriage, and, ultimately, Bob's battle with cancer.
Ben-Adir’s depiction of Bob Marley mirrors the laid-back charisma and confidence of the reggae icon, whose quiet demeanor transforms into unencumbered, impassioned movement when music starts to play. This is balanced by the solid foundation of Rita Marley, who Lashana Lynch portrays with a grounding sense of tenderness and unyielding spiritual certainty.
Throughout the film, movie-goers will be invited into Bob Marley’s past, with flashbacks showing his blossoming relationship with Rita Marley as they bonded over childhood experiences marked with otherness and abandonment, and as she ignited his spiritual journey into the Rastafari movement. The story is also sprinkled with memories of Bob’s growth as a musician, showing humble beginnings as a teenager in Trench Town with original members, Bunny Wailer and Peter Tosh.
The movie trailer, presented by Paramount, has amassed over 7.7 million views on YouTube, and Deadline’s Anthony D’Alessandro reports that the movie is expected to gross $30 million to $35 million. If the screening was any indication of the audience of the movie’s upcoming release, Jamaicans, the diaspora, reggae enthusiasts, and Bob Marley fans worldwide will be united yet again by Bob Marley’s vision of revolution, peace, and love.
Visit the Bob Marley:One Love website, to find showtimes at a theater near you, and don’t forget to listen to the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, available now via UMe/Island Records/Tuff Gong on your way to the theater.
Board Members, Apollone Reid, Laurel Wong, Christine Marzouca, and Lorraine Smith at the Bob Marley: One Love screening on February 12, 2024.
“The movie was a fantastic depiction of the life experiences of the Marley family though decades. The story line certainly answered questions many people have had for years. All the actors were perfectly chosen to fit their roles, and they played those characters with precision. I’m eager to see a sequel to this story. I encourage all Jamaicans to see this film.”
— Apollone Reid, JMCC President
My parents were huge Bob Marley fans and so I just really understood why they would play his music all the time. I am a super proud Jamaican. Fulfilling our destiny and purpose is a struggle but we must press on. Exodus movement of Jah people.
Lorraine Smith, JMCC Director of Education
