Jamaican singer-songwriter Bob Marley was only 36 when he died of cancer in 1981. But around the world, new fans still discover him every day. Now a documentary explores the man and the legacy of his music. Here's a look at Marley.
Courtesy Magnolia Pictures
"With Bob, I think people feel like they have more than just a musical connection," notes MacDonald. "It's more than about the fact that he wrote beautiful melodies and had a beautiful voice. It's about the fact that what he is singing about they find relevance in.
"Almost anywhere in the developing world, people adore Bob Marley," the director adds. "You go to India and they isten to Bob Marley [and] there are murals of Bob Marley in Delhi and places like that. He is literally the only icon of world music who comes from the Third World. He is the Third World superstar. But then in the West, I think it's more about the rebelliousness and anti-establishment nature of him."
Courtesy Magnolia Pictures
"I think I understand my father from the film," Marley says. "We saw him as such a strong man, but there was vulnerability in him and weakness in him too. There was sadness. It wasn't all laughter and joy. There was a lot of sadness there too. It does make me more emotionally connected to him and I hope that people feel the same connection. It is good that people idolize him, but it is even better if you can feel that human connection ...and that's what I hope the film does."