Mali Blues

  • Mali Blues
Genre : Musical
Type : Documentary
Original title :
Principal country concerned : Column : Cinema/tv
Year of production : 2016
Format : Feature
Running time : 92 (in minutes)
http://www.facebook.com/MaliBluesFilm

Mali, situated in the heart of Western Africa, is often regarded as the cradle of today's Blues and Jazz. For centuries music has strengthened Mali's cultural identity, musicians hold a strong position in society. Their freedom and security got crucially threatened when Islamists started to invade the country in 2012 and 2013. Even though they have now retreated, on-going attacks still alarm Mali's people.

With Fatoumata Diawara, the young shooting star of the global pop scene, we take musical journey through the fractured country and its music. On our way we meet other committed musicians such as world famous Ngoni player and traditional Griot Bassekou Kouyaté, street rapper Master Soumy and Tuareg band leader Ahmed Ag Kaedi.

"We as musicians have voices that are stronger than weapons", Bassekou is convinced."With joint music projects we are sending out strong signals to the Malians and the whole world, influencing mentalities, shifting behaviour and promoting religious tolerance."

A film by Lutz Gregor

Germany, 2016, Documentary, 92 mins

starring Fatoumata Diawara, Ahmed Ag Kaedi, Bassekou Kouyaté, Master Soumy

NOTE OF THE PROGRAMMER
"In terms of politics, we haven't understood anything. But musically, I think we have understood something." This phrase that Fatoumata Diawara throws at Ahmed Ag Kaedi under the soft light of Bamako sums up her point of view on the situation in Mali, a country in which music was banned after Islamists took control of the north.
Fatoumata Diawara and Ahmed Ag Kaedi as well as Bassekou Kouyaté and Master Soumy... Mali Blues goes to meet these important musicians and collect their words about the political situation, about the importance of music for the body and the spirit, and as a unifying element. But beyond the speech, the film shows their art, in cinematographic scenes or filmed concerts. The incredible richness and liveliness of the Malian musical scene is drawn out at the crossroads of these portraits, and some long tracking shots let the landscapes scroll by as if observed from a bus window, headphones fixed firmly on ears.

Mourad Moussa (Visions du Réel 2016, Nyon)

International title: Mali Blues
Original title: Mali Blues
Length: 92'
Country: Germany
Year: 2016
Language(s): Bambara, Arabic, French
Subtitles: English, French

Director : Lutz Gregor
Producer : Christian Beetz
Photography : Axel Schneppat
Editing : Markus Schmidt, Michelle Barbin
Sound : Pascal Capitolin
Music : Fatoumata Diawara, Ahmed Ag Kaedi, Bassekou Kouyaté, Master Soumy

Production
Christian Beetz (gebrueder beetz filmproduktion)

Sales Contact
Lea-Marie Körner (gebrueder beetz filmproduktion)
l.koerner@gebrueder-beetz.de
Tel. +493069566913

2016 | Visions du Réel, NYON, Suisse
* Screening at VdR: World Premiere
* Section: Grand Angle
Screening: We 20 April / 20:30 / Théâtre de Marens / Followed by a discussion
Screening: Th 21 April / 20:00 / Théâtre de Grand-Champ / Followed by a discussion
www.visionsdureel.ch/en/film/film/show/mali-blues



________________________

DE
"In puncto Politik haben wir nichts ver- standen. Aber bei der Musik, da haben wir glaube ich etwas verstanden." Diese Äusserung von Fatoumata Diawara gegenüber Ahmed Ag Kaedi im sanften Licht von Bamako allein fasst ihre Sicht der Lage in Mali zusammen, einem Land, in dem Musik verboten ist, seitdem Islamisten den Norden unter ihre Kontrolle gebracht haben.
Fatoumata Diawara und Ahmed Ag Kaedi, aber auch Bassekou Kouyaté und Master Soumy... Mali Blues begegnet diesen bedeutenden Musikern, sam- melt ihre Äusserungen zur politischen Lage, zur Bedeutung der Musik für Körper und Geist und als vereinendes Element. Doch über Diskurse hinaus beleuchtet der Film in kinematografi- schen Inszenierungen oder Mitschnitten von Konzerten ihre Kunst. Die verschiedenen Porträts geben den Blick frei auf die unglaublich vielfältige und lebendige Musikszene Malis und in langen Travellings ziehen die Landschaften vorbei, so, als würde man sie mit Kopfhörern auf den Ohren durch das Fenster eines Reisebusses betrachten.
Mourad Moussa
Internationaler Titel: Mali Blues
Originaltitel: Mali Blues
Sektion: Grand Angle
Länge: 92'
Land: Germany
Jahr: 2016
Bei VdR: World Premiere
Sprache(n): Bambara, Arabic, French

Regisseur : Lutz Gregor
Producer : Christian Beetz
Photography : Axel Schneppat
Editing : Markus Schmidt, Michelle Barbin
Sound : Pascal Capitolin
Music : Fatoumata Diawara, Ahmed Ag Kaedi, Bassekou Kouyaté, Master Soumy

Produktion
Christian Beetz (gebrueder beetz filmproduktion)

Verkaufskontakte
Lea-Marie Körner (gebrueder beetz filmproduktion)
l.koerner@gebrueder-beetz.de
Tél. +493069566913

Articles

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