Reggae legend Bob Marley’s story comes back to life in the new movie, “Bob Marley: One Love”. Telling the story of his rise to stardom and his career legacy, “One Love” encapsulates the events leading up to the release of his 1977 album “Exodus.”
Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green and produced by descendants Ziggy, Rita and Cedella Marley, this retelling of the icon’s history in a culturally respectful and entertaining manner. The plot follows Marley and his band traveling to Europe and throughout Africa on a pro-peace advocacy tour after political conflicts in Jamacia make it unsafe for the Marley family to live there. They then move to Delaware to live with their mother. In the end, the band had composed their 1977 album “Exodus” and returned to perform “One Love” back in Jamacia.
The positive addition of featuring members of the Marley family came as producers looked to keep the plot and screenplay authentic and correct, as well as a portion of the cast being Jamaican.
The performance of Kindsley Ben Adir as Marley beautifully communicates the spread of reggae music and the Rastafari movement. Adir’s attention to detail in bringing Marley back to life is original and lively, showing his maturity as an actor. The portrayal of Rita, Marley’s wife, by Lashana Lynch is emotional and strong. Lynch’s effort to keep Marley and their children safe is motherly and selfless, to say the least.
Throughout the film, the efforts to complete his tour of peace, promoting a safer Jamacia and the relationship between Rita and Marley are tested. In the end, they portray pure, trustful love amid the armed political conflict.
Anna Biedrzycka-Sheppard entranced the audience with realistic 1970s fashions, as well as music by Kris Bowers. The composition of the soundtrack expresses Marley’s laid-back and peaceful personality without straying too far from the seriousness of the plot. T
