Jamaica Observer (05 Apr. 2021)
Plans are being put into place for the 50th anniversary of the Jamaican cult film classic The Harder They Come.
The film which was written, produced and directed by film-maker Perry Henzel and starred reggae artiste Jimmy Cliff, will mark its golden anniversary next year, having been released in 1972, and the Henzell family is not prepared to make that milestone go unmarked.
According to Henzell’s daughter Justine, things are being set up for next year, but she is guarding the details at this time.
“Big things are coming, COVID willing, and while I’m not prepared to share the details right now, I can say it is shaping up nicely as a number of entities will be involved in this celebration of The Harder They Come,” she said.
She noted that a recent acknowledgement of the soundtrack from the film by the Library of Congress in the United States has certainly paved the way for the observances.
“This is huge. This recognition by the Library of Congress most definitely feeds nicely into our whole plans for 2022, and for that we are grateful. This is not just significant for the film; it is significant for Jamaica that this institution is recognising our work. That’s very cool. Bet we will announce the details of the 50th anniversary in the coming months,” Henzell noted.
Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden recently named 25 recordings as audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage.
