THE HARDER THEY COME
Jamacia
| 1973
105 minutes Director: Perry Henzell Screenplay: Perry Henzell, Trevor D. Rhone Photography: David McDonald, Peter Jessop, Franklyn St. Juste Editors: John Victor Smith, Richard White, Seicland Anderson Music: Jimmy Cliff, The Melodians, The Maytals, The Slickers, Desmond Dekker With: Jimmy Cliff, Janet Bartley, Carl Bradshaw, Ras Daniel Hartman, Basil Keane
Perry Henzell’s 1973 hit was an instant cult classic, ignited the international reggae explosion and remains a gangsta manifesto way ahead of its time. Updating the story of Rhygin, an outlaw whose exploits rocked 50s Jamaica, Harder follows brash, golden-voiced country boy Ivan (Jimmy Cliff) as he comes to the city hoping to make it in the music business. Refusing to be ripped off by a fat-cat producer, he drifts into the ganga trade. In no time he’s embarked on a one-man war with the cops who run the show. Though it owes something to 70s blaxploitation, Harder’s enduring vigour and edge owe more to its fundamental realism: the grass-roots panorama of Jamaican life is pungent. The iconic soundtrack beats like the pulse of the landscape itself. Don’t miss these rare screenings of a brand new restored print.
“Fast, tough, sinuous... as causally surprising and effortlessly sinister as the blade sliding out of a gravity knife.” — Jay Cocks, Time
“Jimmy Cliff's anti-hero and Perry Henzell's visuals are perfectly matched, and the grungy and righteously angry tone burns up the screen. An arthouse, post-colonial and cult classic all rolled into one.” — Brannavan Gnanalingham, Lumiere Reader
Regent
Theatre
Sun 22 Mar 8.00pm
Mon 23 Mar 8.15pm
