Proudest son
FOR Ziggy Marley, the accolades for the 2012 documentary Marley, which looks at the life of his iconic father Bob, are welcome.
The film by Scottish director Kevin MacDonald is vying for a number of awards. It is nominated for a BAFTA (the British Academy Awards) in the
category Best Documentary. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has Marley as a nominee for its Image Award in the category Best Documentary (theatrical or television); while the soundtrack has also copped a Grammy nomination for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media.
Ziggy, who spoke to Splash from his California base, said all credit must go to the creative team for pulling off a great piece of work.
“It was difficult to make this documentary considering that my father is no longer here and we did not have a lot of footage. I must credit the creative team for being able to pull this off and create such a memorable documentary. I am really proud and happy,” he noted.
He adds that the documentary has been released on DVD, having made the rounds internationally via cinemas as well as on-line. The response, Ziggy pointed out, has been amazing.
“I remember a screening in Austin, Texas where the reaction was very emotional. The audience not only laugh and clap, but during the sad parts of the film – when he was ill and in Germany — many people cried.”
Bob Marley’s eldest son also noted that he became emotional when he viewed the first cut of the film and saw this segment.
“As children we were not exposed to the full extent of his illness, so this was the most difficult part of the documentary for me, as it was as if I was learning about some details this for the first time.”
For Ziggy, part of the attraction to Marley, is the connection people have to his father who succumbed to cancer at age 36 in May, 1981.
“We the family have been able to keep his spirit alive and therefore people still feel connected. And there is also Bob’s personality which people hold on to as they see him as a brethren, family and friend. Plus his music is still effective and so people can pass it on to future generations.”
At the BAFTAs, Marley is nominated alongside The Imposter, McCullin, Searching for Sugar Man, and West of Memphis.
The NAACP nod pits Marley against Black Wings, Brooklyn Castle, First Position and On the Shoulders of Giants – The Story of the Greatest Team You’ve Never Heard Of.
While at the Grammys, it will compete against soundtracks for The Descendants, Midnight In Paris, The Muppets and Rock Of Ages.
Marley had its Jamaican premiere at Emancipation Park in St Andrew in April of last year. – Jamaica Observer.
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