A.N.S.W.E.R. Film Series: “The Harder They Come”

A.N.S.W.E.R. Film Series: “The Harder They Come”
$5 donation

This legendary Jamaican film was made ten years after Jamaica had achieved formal independence from England. During the 1970s, a progressive and anti-imperialist government, led by Michael Manley, carried out programs of national development that addressed the history of colonial underdevelopement. The government became a target for subversion by U.S. imperialism as the Manley government forged relations with revolutionary Cuba.

Directed by Perry Henzell in 1972, this film tells the story of Ivan (Jimmy Cliff), an innocent country boy who comes to the big bad city of Kingston to make his fame and fortune as a reggae star. However, he finds not stardom but poverty, betrayal and despair. Drifting into the lower reaches of the ganja trade, Ivan becomes a notorious gunman, loosely based on the life and exploits of real life ghetto outlaw Rhygin.

Outside of films like Rome, Open City or Bicycle Thieves, The Harder They Come is as realistic as you can get. Part of this has to do with the harsh reality of life in Jamaica at the time and Henzell’s desire to honestly portray it. Part of it is simply good filmmaking. 120min. Jamaica, 1972

ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War & End Racism)
415-821-6545 • http://www.actionsf.org • answer [at] actionsf.org