by Jasmine Salgado (’26) | March 1, 2024
This article contains spoilers.
It is difficult to grasp the intensity of Bob Marley’s life and the profound impact he had on the world in a mere 107 minutes. However, Bob Marley: One Love seeks to do just that. Largely revolving around Marley’s adult years, the film places the most emphasis on his career from 1976 to 1978. Starting off in his hometown in Jamaica, the story follows the trials and tribulations during the peak of his touring days.
At the time, Jamaica was a country of tremendous political conflict, so Marley’s messages of justice, equality, and peace made him a target for many. Additionally, his choice to make his famous One Love concert free of charge in an effort to unite society through music was seen by many as a direct threat. This was also an obvious cause of the shooting which harmed him, his friends, and his wife Rita Marley. A scene showcasing his beautifully crafted “No Woman, No Cry” playing in the background as Marley nervously looks after his wife in the hospital was especially moving.
Amidst Marley’s terror and shock after seeing his wife shot and awaiting her recovery, the film also includes the first of multiple flashbacks to his younger years. One flashback near the middle of the movie was a standout scene; showing the adventurous moments of their relationship as it first began to bloom, Marley is seen sneaking into his then-girlfriend Rita’s room as the sun sets behind them. The colors of this scene and clear secrecy of the moment skillfully leaves the audience feeling as though they have been let in on a private and precious moment, nostalgic for a memory that is not their own.
Additionally, the image of Marley as a child surrounded by a ring of fire can be seen at varying times throughout the film, serving as a recurring theme of his adolescent years. His lacking relationship with his father negatively affected his entire life, especially his childhood; his abandonment of and unconcern for Marley as a young child destroyed any hope at a healthy relationship. In moments like these where he is struggling most, he frequently falls back on his religious and political beliefs. Marley was devoted to Rastafarianism, which prioritized the African roots of the Jamaican people in addition to believing that Jesus would return as a black man. He references his religion at many points throughout the film, showcasing a pious side to Marley that audiences may not have been aware of beforehand.
While the film showed less of his adolescent coming-of-age years in Jamaica, this could have also been a subtle nod on how negatively Marley was impacted by his childhood. His father’s place—or lack thereof—in his life in addition to the constantly heated political climate of his home country left him feeling upset, disappointed, and scared throughout his childhood. Marley likely placed less significance on these years or even attempted to forget most of them due to the trauma he associated them with.
Bob Marley: One Love was a moving film that followed the immense triumphs and hard falls Marley faced in the midst of 1970s Jamaica. The combination of his hypnotic voice, smooth beats, and powerful messages will continue to have a lasting impact on the reggae genre and the music industry as a whole. In spite of the highly political and violent location coupled with the time period he lived in, he was unwavering in his advocacy for peace and love. With intentions as clear and pure as these, it is no wonder his message resonated with so many.
