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PORTSIDE CULTURE

PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL 2024: “ONE LOVE” BOB MARLEY  
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Ed Rampell
February 24, 2024
Hollywood Progressive
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_ Set against the tempestuous politics of post-colonial Jamaica,
through flashbacks, "One Love" portrays the rise of the beloved Raggae
legend Marley and his legendary band, The Wailers. _

"One Love" - Original Movie Poster,

 

The 32nd Pan African Film & Arts Festival, America’s largest
black-themed filmfest, took place from February 7 to Feb. 19 in Los
Angeles. During Black History Month, PAFF annually screens movies
ranging from Hollywood studio productions and Hallmark Channel
TV-movies to indies, foreign films, documentaries, low-budget
productions, shorts, animation, etc. Films span the spectrum from
Oscar nominees to hard-to-find gems from Africa, the Caribbean,
America, and beyond that L.A. viewers are unlikely to be able to see
at any other venue. Here are reviews of just a few of the films
audiences have the opportunity to see.

BOB MARLEY: ONE LOVE: BIOPIC ABOUT REGGAE LEGEND HAS POLITICAL
UNDERTONES

PAFF runs the filmic gamut, from obscure shorts and foreign films to
big-budget studio productions. A case in point is Paramount’s great
new movie _Bob Marley: One Love_, which was screened as one of
PAFF’s “Spotlight Films” two days before it was officially
released on, appropriately, Valentine’s Day.

This biopic about the mythic Jamaican reggae musician opens with a
montage of archival footage and news clips of the turbulent politics
and electoral campaign of Jamaica’s Prime Minister Michael Manley in
1976 and shows how superstar Bob Marley (portrayed by London-born
Kingsley Ben-Adir, son of immigrants from Trinidad) rose to play a
significant role in Jamaica’s churning national scene. This includes
his surviving an assassination attempt two days before the free
“Smile Jamaica Concert,” which was supported by Manley.

The Pan Africanist Marley is shown throughout the biopic reading
and/or quoting the Book of Revelations and his fellow Jamaican, Black
nationalist Marcus Garvey, plus praising Ethiopian Haile Selassie (who
appears in a captivating fantasy sequence). Bob’s “One Love”
motto and song reference Garvey’s slogan, “One God! One Aim! One
Destiny!” Bob also insists on his tour, including performances in
Africa, despite the reluctance of white promoters worried about
infrastructure and, of course, profitability.

BAFTA award winner Lashana Lynch, a British-born thespian of Jamaican
ancestry who acted in the last James Bond movie, 2021’s No Time to
Die, and in Viola Davis’ Africa-made 2022 The Woman King, depicts
Bob’s Cuban-born wife Rita Marley, who grew up in Jamaica and
converts Bob to the Rastafarian cause. Rastafarianism combines an
eclectic mix of Christianity and Afrocentric theology, stressing unity
and peace (along with, of course, the consumption of copious amounts
of ganja). Rita and Bob had three biological children together,
including Ziggy Marley, who introduces One Love with an endorsement of
the movie.

Set against the tempestuous politics of post-colonial Jamaica, through
flashbacks, One Love also portrays the rise of the beloved Marley and
his legendary band, The Wailers. The biopic also recounts Bob’s
courtship and marriage with Rita, which could be another reason why
this box office hit opened on Valentine’s Day.

I’m no expert on Marley, but to me, Kingsley Ben-Adir convincingly
portrayed Marley, whom his bandmates called “Skip” or
“Skipper,” as he was their fearless leader. As one would expect,
the biopic includes great music, including hits such as the eponymous
One Love, No Woman, No Cry, and Exodus, which the characters perform
live at various concerts or in recording studios.

The movie was filmed on location in Jamaica and London. Despite the
fact that Ziggy, Rita, and other members of the Marley family have
producer credits, it’s not a hagiography, and our man Bob doesn’t
come across as flawless. The movie is directed by Reinaldo Marcus
Green, who previously helmed a fact-based feature about sports icons,
2021’s King Richard.

You don’t need to smoke a spliff beforehand (or during) in order to
enjoy the highly entertaining Bob Marley: One Love. Ya mon!

The above PAFF screenings took place at: Cinemark Baldwin Hills 15 &
XD 4020 Marlton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90008. Starting Feb. 20, PAFF
has a Virtual Cinema Pass through March 31 to see some of the
festival’s films. For more information, see here
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PAFF, see here [[link removed]]. 

“BOB MARLEY: "ONE LOVE” won PAFF's JA’NET DUBOIS FESTIVAL AWARD
FOR BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE.  IT IS CURRENTLY SCREENING IN THEATERS
NATIONWIDE. 

The opinions expressed here are solely the author's and do not reflect
the opinions or beliefs of the Hollywood Progressive.

ED RAMPELL i_s an L.A.-based full-time freelance writer and author.
He was named after legendary CBS broadcaster Edward R. Murrow because
of his TV exposes of Sen. Joe McCarthy and majored in Cinema at
Manhattan’s Hunter College. After graduating, Rampell lived in
Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii, and Micronesia, reporting on the nuclear free
and independent Pacific and Hawaiian Sovereignty movements for: ABC
News’ “20/20,” Reuters, AP, Radio Australia, Radio New Zealand,
NewsWeek, Honolulu Weekly, etc. _

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* One Love
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* Bob Marley
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