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Poster for The Harder They Come
U
Unrated

The Harder They Come

1972 · 103 min

Crime, Drama, Music

Ivanhoe Martin arrives in Kingston, Jamaica, looking for work and, after some initial struggles, lands a recording contract as a reggae singer. He records his first song, "The Harder They Come," but after a bitter dispute with a manipulative producer named Hilton, soon finds himself resorting to petty crime in order to pay the bills. He deals marijuana, kills some abusive cops and earns local folk hero status. Meanwhile, his record is topping the charts.

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Appeals to viewers drawn to politically charged music dramas about struggling outsiders, systemic exploitation, and the seductive costs of becoming a folk hero.

Tone
tense, bittersweet, satirical
Payoff
catharsis, amusement
Pacing
steady
Intensity
intense
Structure
linear
Themes
ambition, exploitation, poverty, rebellion, celebrity
Setting
early 1970s, Jamaican rural parishes and urban music scenes

Content dimensions

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IMDb parental guide

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