Ivanhoe Martin arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, looking for work and, after some initial struggles, lands a recording contract as a reggae singer. He records his first song, "The Harder They Come," but after a bitter dispute with a manipulative producer named Hilton, soon finds himself resorting to petty crime in order to pay the bills. He deals marijuana, kills some abusive cops and earns local folk hero status. Meanwhile, his record is topping the charts.
Score
Jimmy Cliff's soundtrack basically invented reggae for global audiences.
Cinematography
Handheld Kingston streets—feels like you're hiding from cops too.
Acting
Jimmy Cliff isn't acting, he's channeling—charm and desperation in one.
Director
Perry Henzell
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Jamaica's first feature film and single-handedly created the country's film industry. Perry Henzell basically willed an entire nation's cinema into existence.
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