The Harder They Come
Perry Henzell · 1972
Perry Henzell’s 1972 debut follows Ivan, a rural Jamaican who moves to Kingston seeking work, only to be ground down by exploitation, then mythologised after turning to crime. Starring Jimmy Cliff and scored entirely with foundational reggae tracks, it pioneered Caribbean cinematic self-representation — raw, Patois-speaking, and rooted in real locations. Its influence far outstrips its modest production, reshaping how global audiences heard reggae and saw Black Caribbean life.