Tuesday, May 13, 2014

The Man. The Legend. Bob Marley.


[Extra Credit]
 

Bob Marley: The Making of a Legend

Part of Changing the Picture (2014) 
Sunday, April 27, 4:30 p.m.

If I could describe this documentary with one word it would be “raw”.  I’ve never felt so intimate with a film before, it felt like watching a home video.  The most astounding part of all of it was that this home video was about Bob Marley, one of the most iconic and my personal favorite artists of all time.  It depicted the earlier part of Bob Marley’s life and career before he became the famous reggae artist he is today.
            Ester Anderson’s artistic choices in the film creates a unique experience for the viewers.  Like I said it was not only intimate but more than anything it was visually stimulating.  The mix of color and black & white imagery created diversity throughout the film.  The technique that stuck out the most to me was the use of transitions.  Because much of the footage was gathered randomly and then lost for over thirty years, the material would not have flown together very naturally.  But Anderson’s use of transitions and fades helped create fluidity throughout the documentary.
            Anderson’s choice to release this footage and create the film allows fans to see Bob Marley in a completely different light, one that shows innocence and the hopes he had of perusing his music but she still managed to capture his down to earth vibe that he’s famous for spreading through his music.  The truth and honesty in her work reflects Marley’s personality and art and I believe that’s something all documentaries should aspire to achieve.

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