The Harder They Come (Criterion Collection)
05-27-01 | 01:34 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Banned
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"The Harder They Come" has a documentary look and feel to it. Which is fortuitously appropriate because it is loosely based upon Rhygin, a legendary Jamaican criminal/folk hero from the 1950's. Though the look and feel of the film is probably more incidental to the budget and production quality, it is does happen to be a fortuitous happenstance that adds an important element to the story: that of harsh reality.
The story chronicles Ivan (Jimmy Cliff) who moves from the country to the big city to try to make a name for himself. Principled, but naive, Ivan finds that honesty and integrity are hard to find in those people that can assist him in achieving his goals: from the Preacher who confirms Ivan's belief that not all is perfect in religion, much less religious leaders, to Hilton, the man who monopolizes the music industry in Jamaica and acts as a slum lord over the talent he manages.
"The Harder They Come" is not a tourist flick, it does not showcase Jamaica as a vacation spot for the rich and famous (as so many Hollywood pictures tend to do, for example "Dr.No," "Cocktail," "Cool Runnings.") Instead it shows life in Jamaica as it exists for the majority of its nationals. Jamaica is after all, an underdeveloped nation. We get to see the dirt and grime, the squalor of Kingston, the streets as they exist for so many.
But the film is topical for any nation, developed or otherwise. It asserts that to attain one's dreams is difficult, people are waiting to oppress you are any opportunity, to use you for their own gain. And that is a major theme of the story and title track, oppression by the man.
It is exactly that oppression that leads Ivan into the Ganja trade. But even there he finds oppression and corruption, as the people in power use and abuse those they rely upon to make their money. Ivan stands up to this and again he is at odds with those in power.
The tracks in the movie are infectious. If you are a fan of reggae, you are most certainly already familiar with all of them. The soundtrack to this album was a resounding success in America and the U.K.
Beware. You will need to use subtitles. Though the movie is in English, the Jamaican accents are so thick, it is difficult to understand them on the first viewing. You'll be less reliant on the subitles in subsequent viewings.
The final scene does an effective parallel with an earlier movie house scene; a 1966 spaghetti western known as "Django."
The commentary track on this film is very good. And the interview with the ex-Island head founder, Chris Blackwell is informative, especially in terms of Jamaica's music industry during the period and its portrayal in the movie.
The story chronicles Ivan (Jimmy Cliff) who moves from the country to the big city to try to make a name for himself. Principled, but naive, Ivan finds that honesty and integrity are hard to find in those people that can assist him in achieving his goals: from the Preacher who confirms Ivan's belief that not all is perfect in religion, much less religious leaders, to Hilton, the man who monopolizes the music industry in Jamaica and acts as a slum lord over the talent he manages.
"The Harder They Come" is not a tourist flick, it does not showcase Jamaica as a vacation spot for the rich and famous (as so many Hollywood pictures tend to do, for example "Dr.No," "Cocktail," "Cool Runnings.") Instead it shows life in Jamaica as it exists for the majority of its nationals. Jamaica is after all, an underdeveloped nation. We get to see the dirt and grime, the squalor of Kingston, the streets as they exist for so many.
But the film is topical for any nation, developed or otherwise. It asserts that to attain one's dreams is difficult, people are waiting to oppress you are any opportunity, to use you for their own gain. And that is a major theme of the story and title track, oppression by the man.
It is exactly that oppression that leads Ivan into the Ganja trade. But even there he finds oppression and corruption, as the people in power use and abuse those they rely upon to make their money. Ivan stands up to this and again he is at odds with those in power.
The tracks in the movie are infectious. If you are a fan of reggae, you are most certainly already familiar with all of them. The soundtrack to this album was a resounding success in America and the U.K.
Beware. You will need to use subtitles. Though the movie is in English, the Jamaican accents are so thick, it is difficult to understand them on the first viewing. You'll be less reliant on the subitles in subsequent viewings.
The final scene does an effective parallel with an earlier movie house scene; a 1966 spaghetti western known as "Django."
The commentary track on this film is very good. And the interview with the ex-Island head founder, Chris Blackwell is informative, especially in terms of Jamaica's music industry during the period and its portrayal in the movie.
05-29-01 | 12:28 PM
#2
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,421
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From: Olympia, WA
