Marley (2012)

Growing up as a kid I used to listen to reggae. Blessed (or cursed) with a dad who loved the genre, I was exposed to a wide variety of many respected and decent artists. But the musician who my dad favoured most and who he had acquired mountains of tapes and CDs from was Bob Marley. I remember ‘cruising’ in the family car on the school run, singing along with the legend no longer with us. However, time went on and I soon found pleasure in other genres of music. But when me and my dad heard there was to be a film on Bob Marley’s life last year we knew we had to watch it, if not for the spirit of nostalgia. There was a minor mistake though; I thought it was a film when it’s not. It’s in fact a very well put together documentary, worthy to be called a ‘film’. Showing the life of a boy, born into an interracial relationship, it tells us how Bob realised music was his way out of the poverty he lived in. It shows you the early days of his career and chronological achievements and events in his life, letting you see exclusive interviews with people who knew him. It’s then that you see the authenticity of the whole thing. If it was a movie it would be Hollywood-ised (If there is such a term) but due to it being a documentary monitored by the people who knew him best, you know by watching it how it’s as accurate as it could be. Despite the documentary very much favouring Bob Marley, it does show the controversy over the adultery he committed. It shows Bob’s opinion about why he did it but leaves the viewer to decide for themselves about whether his reasoning is acceptable. However, you cant help but love Bob Marley for his lovely nature, peaceful attitude and decree to help unify the nations through his music and life. The film has obtained a ‘15’ rating purely for its references and usage of marijuana, Marley deeming it suitable for usage due to his Rastafarian beliefs. If it wasn’t for this then it would easily be a ‘PG’ and I don’t see how children younger than 15 shouldn’t be able to watch this, providing they know the dangers of the drug in use. But anyway, this isn’t a film or even a documentary about music, it’s about the life lived by a legend. Peace out.