Esther Anderson met Bob Marley in New York at the end of 1972 shortly after starring in A Warm December opposite Sidney Poitier at the time when Bob was still unknown. A minority shareholder and co - founder of Island Records, Esther helped to launch the international career of Jamaican artists like Millie Small and Jimmy Cliff from the early 1960's in London. Growing up with The Beatles and The Stones in swinging London, and in Hollywood with Marlon Brando, Esther was the right person to transform the career of The Wailers into the most successful Reggae band in the world.
When Bob asked her to help him and the Wailers, and she listened to their revolutionary lyrics and rhythm with songs like Concrete Jungle, Slave Driver and 400 Years, Esther made a commitment to get them through the door. She returned to Jamaica to launch the band, rehearsing them, photographing them and filming their early development. A passionate artist, Esther immersed herself in the world of Reggae and the Rastafarian culture, becoming creatively and emotionally involved with Bob Marley, writing songs of protest and pioneering a historical social change in the struggle for equal rights and justice for the people of colour. This entire journey was recorded by Esther with a prototype Sony video camera and a super-8 film camera for a blue print film on the Wailers, Reggae music and the Rastafarian culture, and a Nikon camera for the promotion of their new image. Esther and Bob's first collaboration was the song Get up stand up for your Rights, followed by I Shot the Sheriff, Burnin' and Lootin', Talking Blues, Revolution, Easy Skanking, Road Block and War. Her photograph of Bob smoking a joint became the first iconic poster of Bob Marley and The Wailers and later the front cover of their album Catch a Fire. Her photographs on the gatefold Burnin' album, similar in concept to The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's album, created the union between Reggae and Rasta, which would become Bob Marley's image around the world. Seven years later, when Bob Marley passed away in 1981, his music spoke to all nations, and today he is the most popular artist in the world.......
Beware some negative reviews of this film, which are ill informed and miss the point.This film makes available for the first time, Esther Andersons personal and intimate footage of Bob Marley & The Wailers. Don't expect polished cinematography, this is very much an earthly portrait of Bob and The Wailers from someone who was actually there. That is not to say that this is not a proffesionally produced and quality piece of filmaking,which it evidently is.
Esther Anderson has been the subject of personal abuse and harassment by racists on her social media sites who are pursuing a hidden agenda to undermine the success of this film. This is a must see film for anyone interested in The Wailers,Reggae Music,Rastafari and its message of universal love and unity.
Them tired fi see we face, but dem cant get us out of this race..
