Sights and Sounds: The Film

Back in 1972, the international face of reggae was as a novelty item: sugary beats oozing with strings, cheesy lyrics and acres of polyester. Then The Harder They Come scorched its way across global cinema and the way the world looked at Jamaica would never be the same again…

The Harder They Come was instrumental in changing perceptions of Jamaica, its culture and, thanks to the accompanying soundtrack, its music. It was only a matter of time before Bob Marley would crash into the mainstream, thrusting Jamaican culture into the spotlight once and for all. But it was thanks to the vision of director/screenwriter Perry Henzell and The Harder They Come that edged it onto the stage for the first time, and proved to the rest of the world that Jamaica was a creative force to be reckoned with.

Born in Jamaica in 1936, Perry Henzell was the visionary director behind The Harder They Come.  His film took three years to make and six years of relentless promotion as Henzell personally brought the film to audiences the world over.
To read more about the making of the movie, click here

The Harder They Come was first film made for Jamaicans by Jamaicans, featuring dialogue thick with authentic conversational patois, with a real roots reggae artist as its star – it was, predictably, a huge hit in its home country.
Read about the film’s opening night here