BIG EARS FESTIVAL

The Harder They Come (1972)

Directed by Perry Henzell

Fri   Mar   28   2025 - 9:00 AM Regal Riviera Cinema 2

“This crime drama of a headstrong singer shooting for his chance of success is as raw and energetic as its reggae soundtrack” – The Guardian

Reggae superstar Jimmy Cliff is Ivan, a rural Jamaican musician who journeys to the city of Kingston in search of fame and fortune. Pushed to desperate circumstances by shady record producers and corrupt cops, he finally achieves notoriety—as a murderous outlaw. Boasting some of the greatest music ever produced in Jamaica, The Harder They Come brought the catchy and subversive rhythms of the Rastas to the U.S. in the early 1970s.

Runtime: 1 Hour 43 Minutes

Joe Boyd will introduce this film.

Director: Perry Henzell
Writers: Perry Henzell, Trevor D. Rhone
Stars: Jimmy Cliff, Janet Bartley, Carl Bradshaw. Music by
Jimmy Cliff
Desmond Dekker
The Slickers
The Maytals

BIG EARS
03.27_03.30.25
Knoxville, TN · USA

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