The Harder They Come

Dir: Perry Henzell
Cast: Jimmy Cliff
102 mins · 1972 · Jamaica · Cert 15 · English · Subtitled
The Harder They Come is a film that tells the story of Ivanhoe "Ivan" Martin, an aspiring singer who arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, determined to live out his dreams on his own terms and make it as a music superstar. The film is also a story that reflects the realities of Kingston life, with an assortment of predatory preachers, mercenary record producers, corrupt cops, and miscellaneous hustlers. The protagonist is inspired by the life of the Jamaican outlaw Ivanhoe “Rhygin” Martin, credited with the quote that gives the movie its title.
Few albums have altered the course of popular music quite like The Harder They Come. While reggae would eventually become synonymous with Bob Marley, Island, and Studio One, this soundtrack led the charge, offering international audiences a vivid and authentic snapshot of Jamaican music before it became a worldwide phenomenon. The soundtrack actually reflects the Jamaican musical ecosystem at the time, assembling songs from multiple artists and producers rather than presenting a unified studio project. The wider cast is superb, with a cross-section of iconic Jamaican talent, including Desmond Dekker, The Maytals, The Melodians, and The Ethiopians. The cohesion is also one of the album’s main strengths, with a revolving but unified cast of players under the production of leading Jamaican producers Leslie Kong and Jimmy Miller.
Many of the tracks went on to become some of the most celebrated compositions in reggae music, but The Harder They Come remains influential as it introduced countless listeners to Jamaican music for the first time. Although there are moments of sweet melancholy, and it never shies away from the darker underbelly of the Kingston scene, The Harder They Come is a joyous collection. Seminal, inspirational, but much as it was on release, it is all just so wonderfully celebratory.