For years, people have been coming to Ziggy Marley and his family for ideas on how to adapt reggae icon Bob Marley's life into a film. But it never seemed right until a few years ago when they decided to become instigators.
Ziggy Marley said in a recent interview with The Associated Press that “it was just a feeling” about bringing his father's life to the screen. “We looked at it without knowing we absolutely wanted to do it because we needed to make sure the people we were going to do it with were the right people. People who respected my credibility.”
This time, he said, he found the right partner. But it was a gamble for everyone. For Paramount Pictures and the other producers, they wanted to do right by Bob Marley's story, music, and message, and were worried about what would happen if they didn't. For Kingsley Ben-Adir's icon status. For his family and friends who have mined their memories for a more intimate story. And director Reynaldo Marcus Green had to make it all sing together.
Early signs suggest it's working well for movie-going audiences. Bob Marley: One Love has only been in theaters for a few days, but it's already making waves at the box office. It grossed $14 million in North America on its opening day alone, setting a record for a mid-week Valentine's Day debut. Although critics were mixed, ticket buyers responded enthusiastically, giving the $70 million film the highest score in exit polls.
“This is a very rewarding validation of what we set out to do,” said Mike Ireland, co-president of Paramount Motion Picture Group. “The audience is the final arbiter of every movie and everything you put out into the world. And to have them react that way? Just amazing.”
The film focuses on a specific period in Bob Marley's life from 1976 to 1978. During a time of political turmoil in Jamaica, the reggae legend survived an assassination attempt and spent 18 months in exile in London creating his seminal album Exodus. He was diagnosed with cancer and returned to Jamaica to reunite with his family and perform his famous “One Love” concert.
“I'm a movie buff,” said multiple Grammy Award winner Ziggy Marley. “My selfish goal was to make a movie with entertainment and action. I told them, 'I don't want to see a boring movie.' And this period was the most active and fun. ”
The story and script are based on stories from Ziggy Marley, his legendary widow Rita Marley, played by Lashana Lynch in this film, and others who knew him well. They filmed on location in the UK and Jamaica, collaborating with local people in front of and behind the camera, where many had personal or at least indirect connections to Bob Marley.
For Greene, one of the biggest challenges with a film like One Love was getting the patois language right and making it feel real without diluting it. They were essentially producing foreign language films without subtitles, he said. This is just one of the key ways the predominantly Jamaican cast and crew add texture and legitimacy to everything.
“I would say 98 percent of the cast is Jamaican,” Green said. “There are real musicians, too. That creates a sense of authenticity. It doesn't feel like you're watching actors trying to play music. There's real music by real musicians.”
The studio and production company relied heavily on the local government and film commission for assistance in filming in Trench Town and recreating Bob Marley's home as it originally was.
“To do something like this, you have to first have the blessing of the Jamaican people, right?” said Ziggy Marley. “It wouldn't have been possible without Jamaica.”
And everyone hopes they will contribute to Jamaica's film production infrastructure. It's no surprise that this film holds the record for the biggest opening day box office in Jamaican history, surpassing “Black Panther.''
Everyone had in mind to get Bob Marley right. It begins with music that most listeners would know and expect from certain things, and then slowly expands into the private life and inner life of an extraordinary person. Ben-Adir learned how to sing and play the guitar during filming under the tutelage of Ziggy Marley, who wanted an artistic interpretation rather than an exact copy. The final film combines Ben-Adir's voice with archival recordings.
“Kingsley did a good job,” Ziggy Marley said. “He did the work. He really studied.”
When family and heritage are involved in the production of biopics, lives can be watered down and tainted. But Ziggy Marley and his family made it clear that they wanted to show the real person, flaws and all. And who better to direct that process and the large-scale recreation of famous concerts than someone who is an acclaimed musician himself?
Ziggy Marley said he hoped the film would “make people feel like they're part of the family, they're part of the crew, they're part of the band.” “You're inside now. You're not just a fan on the outside.”
But mostly, he said, it's about the message.
“We are shining a light on the idea of the unity of humanity, one love for people,” he said. “That’s what we’re most proud of, that we’re living our purpose.”
