Dates & times
All times are local to the venue · America/New York
- From 8:20 PM
These are the previously published dates. Check the organizer for a new edition.
Check the organizer’s latest schedule ↗The Harder They Come at Film Forum, introduced by Ashley Clark
The music business is both a dream and a trap for the aspiring singer at the center of The Harder They Come. Film Forum’s October 29 screening pairs Perry Henzell’s 1972 drama with an introduction by Ashley Clark, whose writing considers the film’s place in the international spread of reggae.
A bid for stardom turns dangerous
Jimmy Cliff plays Ivanhoe Martin, a young man from the Jamaican countryside who comes to Kingston hoping to become a singer. His encounters with exploitative record producers and corrupt police send the story toward violence and outlaw notoriety, making the pursuit of musical success inseparable from the obstacles in his path.
Cliff is also among the film’s credited musicians, along with Desmond Dekker, The Slickers and The Maytals. Writing about the film, Clark connects its soundtrack to reggae’s international reach and places the genre in a Jamaican musical lineage that includes mento, ska and rocksteady.
A film in a wider history
Clark’s connection to the film extends beyond this introduction: he discusses it in The World of Black Film: A Journey Through Cinematic Blackness in 100 Films. He is the Criterion Collection’s curatorial director and previously directed film programming at Brooklyn Academy of Music.
After the screening, Clark is scheduled to sign copies of the book in Film Forum’s lobby. The film runs approximately 109 minutes; leave additional time for the introduction and signing, whose lengths are not listed.
Further reading: Film Forum · THE HARDER THEY COME Introduced by Film Programmer and Author Ashley ClarkFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗ · Film Forum · Perry Henzell’s THE HARDER THEY COMEFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗
Screening schedule
Clark introduces the film; the lobby book signing follows the screening.
2026-10-29 · Film Forum
- The Harder They Come, introduced by Ashley Clark
Planning the screening
Member and general admission
Tickets are $12 for Film Forum members and $18 for general admission.
Inside the cinema
Film Forum says its four theaters, lobby and restrooms are wheelchair accessible on the ground level without stairs. Assistive listening devices are available on request.
Getting to Film Forum
Subway and bus
Film Forum is at 209 West Houston Street, between Sixth Avenue and Varick Street. The theater lists West 4 Street, Spring Street and Houston Street as nearby subway stations.
Its directions also list the M20 on Varick Street, the M5 at Sixth Avenue and Houston Street, and the M21 on Houston Street. Check current transit information before traveling.
Bike or drive
Film Forum lists two bike racks in front of the theater and Citi Bike stations nearby. It also notes garages west of the cinema and both metered and non-metered street parking in the area; check posted rules.
Before you make a plan
When does the screening start?
The screening with Ashley Clark’s introduction is listed for 8:20 p.m. on Thursday, October 29, 2026.
How long is the film?
The film runs approximately 109 minutes. Allow additional time for the introduction and the post-screening signing.
Film Forum · THE HARDER THEY COME Introduced by Film Programmer and Author Ashley ClarkFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗ · Film Forum · Perry Henzell’s THE HARDER THEY COMEFilm Forum on FacebookFilm Forum on TwitterFilm Forum on InstagramFilm Forum on BlueskyFilm Forum on Letterboxd ↗
Will Ashley Clark sign books?
Yes. He is scheduled to sign copies of The World of Black Film in the lobby after the screening.
Is Film Forum wheelchair accessible?
Film Forum says its four theaters, lobby and restrooms are wheelchair accessible on the ground level, with no stairs.
Location & Google Maps
Film Forum
209 West Houston Street, New York, NY 10014
Map search by venue and address. Check the organiser’s entrance details before travelling.