The Harder They Come Director Perry Henzell Dies
Filed under: Classics, Drama, Foreign Language, Independent, Music & Musicals, Obits, Other Festivals, Toronto International Film Festival, Cinematical Indie
As a fan of film and of reggae music, I say goodbye to an important figure. Perry Henzell, who directed The Harder They Come, died of cancer Thursday at the age of 70. Henzell wasn't a prolific filmmaker, but his 1972 classic helped popularize reggae music throughout the world. It is one of those films where the soundtrack is just as important as the actual picture. Henzell shot a second film thirty years ago, but it wasn't finished until just recently. No Place Like Home premiered in September at the Toronto International Film Festival and is opening in Jamaica this weekend, screening at the Flashpoint Film Festival.
Having grown up listening to Jamaican music and performing in a ska/reggae band, I have to wonder if my life would have been different had The Harder They Come never been made. Sure, reggae would have likely been exposed to the world without the film, but that isn't important. What is important is that Henzell was able to showcase the music and its locale with such a raw, realistic portrayal. Outsiders were able to not only grab hold of the sound, but also its roots and its environment, as they were introduced to a music in its context, something rarely displayed so definitively.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-02-2006 @ 3:20AM
Mohaski said...
RIP, Mr. Henzell...
As a hardcore reggae fan, I also enjoy THE HARDER THEY COME, though the soundtrack is much, much better than the film itself, which suffers from a pedestrian story, questionable acting, and low quality technical aspects. Having said that, I do agree that the film was important to the exportation of reggae and reggae culture to the world, and it enjoys the distinction of being the first film ever produced in Jamaica. And it IS enjoyable, despite whatever flaws I find in it. If nothing else, the film ought to be seen by any music fan, for the single scene of Jimmy Cliff singing the title song in a studio - one of the finest singing performances ever captured on film. Stunning.
For me, a far, far better "Reggae film" is ROCKERS, which not only captures the Reggae scene, but Jamaican culture in all it's colorful variety. The plot, as loose as it may be, is truer to the real Jamaican music industry, and is much more organic...Less contrived. It's superior in all technical aspects to THTC, features appearances by quite a few popular Reggae stars of the era, and has a certain style that is hard to deny, probably due to the fact that it was written and directed by Ted Bafaloukos, who's main occupation was Production Designer. HIGHLY recommended.
Having said that, again, may Perry Henzell rest in peace.
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