Ghett'a Life review

The Harder They Come Film Review

By José Torres Rosales

1. In general, what did you like and dislike about the film?

I liked the way the movie shows the difficulties that a poor person faces when they arrive to a big city, or when they want to change their lives. Despite of the light and sometimes funny way that the movie has to show Ivan Martin’s problems, the story of the failures of the main character has a harsh truth behind: There’s always someone taking advantage of your efforts.

In the stairway to his goals, Ivan Martin has to fulfill some other people’s rules, the preacher, the record studio and label man, and they’re always kind of punishing him. All the things that he does, trying to advance, are viewed with contempt by the preacher, and the record studio guys kind of stole his song. So, what is society waiting from people that has always been mistreated by other people that holds the power, the power of money, or the one that the preacher holds by being the representative of a god.

Finally our main character falls into a path that seemed to be the only way for a person without opportunities: the crime. And the result of everything turns into a tragedy, as it always is for heroes or anti heroes.

What I did dislike?, the ketchup blood, but this isn’t Hollywood, low budget justifies everything.

2. Who is your favorite character from the film?

Ivan, but when he turns into a bad guy. In the beginning of the movie I thought, poor man, he is going to be bullied by everyone, but after killing the first policeman everything gets better.

3. Would you recommend this film to someone, why/why not?

Yes, but I think you have to be interested in the history of a different culture, and also have an open mind to receive this way of making films that show the life of a normal and poor person, sometimes, it is difficult to see this type of movies. The way they reflect postcolonial and third world societies and their problems is too hard for some people to see. I would like to show this movie to someone to show him how difficult life has always been for people without money and any relationship with power, even if that power is small as the power of a neighborhood preacher.