Rebel Music - The Bob Marley Story
The legend of Bob Marley
(1945-1981) is well served by this comprehensive and clear-eyed look at the
turbulent life and times of the reggae great. Jeremy Marre's documentary
presents the man as a vitally important artist, but a flawed--if immensely
appealing--human being. The trajectory of his rise is traced from his humble
beginnings as the son of a poor, teenage mother in rural
Jamaica
to the heights of
international superstardom in the 1970s. Along the way, Marre provides a
context for the development of his artistry by exploring the political
situation in
Jamaica
at the time,
the roots of Rastafarianism (to which he was intensely devoted), and his
unconventional relationships with women. Although he remained close to wife,
Rita, until his death, Marley enjoyed a number of public relationships with
other women (Rita admits she found this difficult; Marley claims he didn't
see anything unusual about it). The sheer number of interviews is
impressive. Aside from the clips of Marley himself, Bunny Livingstone and
Peter Tosh (the Wailers), Island Records founder Chris Blackwell, two
Jamaican prime ministers (Socialist Michael Manley and Conservative Edward
Seaga), and even a CIA official (Philip Agee) all make an appearance. The
breadth of Marley's music is represented by over 40 tracks, from the early
ska hit "Judge Not" to later political numbers like "Africa
Unite." Although Marley never actually considered himself a
"political" person, he was surely a rebel--brave, passionate,
committed--in the best sense of the word. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
