Trailer
Mali Blues
The West African country of Mali is considered the birthplace of the blues and jazz, brought later by abducted slaves to America’s cotton fields. For centuries music has strengthened Mali’s cultural identity, musicians are holding strong positions in society. Following Fatoumata Diawara, shooting star of the global pop scene, MALI BLUES is a musical journey, discovering the country’s rich musical culture and it’s threat by radical Islamists. On our way we meet other committed musicians, who are fighting for unity and the freedom to express themselves through their music, like world famous Ngoni player and traditional Griot Bassekou Kouyaté, street rapper Master Soumy and Tuareg band leader Ahmed Ag Kaedi.
Synopsis
Mali, situated in the heart of Western Africa, is the cradle of today’s Blues and Jazz. It is believed that slaves brought the music as well as the traditional African string instrument „Ngoni“ to the North American cotton fields, where it soon evolved into the Banjo. For centuries music has strengthened Mali’s cultural identity, musicians are holding strong positions in society.
For 10 months in 2012 and 2013, Mali’s North was under the rule of Islamic fundamentalists, occupying the towns of Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu in the desert. They went after the country’s culture, destroyed ancient cultural heritage and imposed an incredibly strict Sharia law, which banned all music. They tortured musicians and issued death threats against them. Even though Islamists have meanwhile retreated and UN “blue helmets” have started peacekeeping operations, the awareness, memory and fear remain, especially among the musicians – still danger is lurking in the desert.
Following Fatoumata Diawara, shooting star of the global pop scene, MALI BLUES is a musical journey, discovering the country’s rich musical culture and it’s threat by radical Islamists. On our way we meet other committed musicians, who are fighting for unity and the freedom to express themselves through their music, like world famous Ngoni player and traditional Griot Bassekou Kouyaté, street rapper Master Soumy and Tuareg band leader Ahmed Ag Kaedi.
The four Malian musicians all have something in common: their music connects, consoles, heals and gives people the power to fight – against a radical Islam, for a change in their country and for a future in tolerance and peace.
With
Fatoumata Diawara, Ahmed Ag Kaedi, Bassekou Kouyaté, Master Soumy
Director
Lutz Gregor
Director of Photography
Axel Schneppat
Editor
Markus CM Schmidt, Michelle Barbin
Sound
Pascal Capitolin
Live-Sound
Karsten Höfer
Sound Design
Daniel Piechotka
Sound Mix
Jörg Höhne
Production Assistance
Bärbel Mauch, Mory Touré
Additional cinematographers
Dieter Stürmer, Konrad Waldmann, Abdellah Coulibaly, Mohamed Lamine Touré, Bakary Sangaré
Line Producer
Kathrin Isberner
Production Manager
Anique Roelfsema, Nick Pastucha
Technical Supervisor
Philipp Weigold
Production accountancy
Daniela Schöne, Sandra Zentgraf
Production Assistance
Céline Deligny, Marianne Kühn
Producer
Kerstin Meyer-Beetz
Assistance of Producer
Lea-Marie Körner
Executive Producer
Christian Beetz
Commissioning Editor ZDF/ arte: Tobias Cassau
A gebrueder beetz filmproduktion
In coproduction with ZDF
In association with ARTE
Funded by Film- und Medienstiftung NRW, Medienboard Berlin-Brandenburg, FFA, DFFF and MEDIA
Sales & distribution
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Directed by veteran German documentarian Lutz Gregor, "Mali Blues" shows how the musicians reacted and provides generous amounts of their music as part of the mix. Easily the film's most compelling section shows Diawara returning for the first time to the village where she was raised, her tumultuous welcome, and a song she performs to a women-only group in which she speaks out about the horrors of female circumcision, still very much an issue in the area. "Mali Blues" ends on a happier note, with Diawara's first-ever concert in Mali, at the riverbank Festival sur le Niger in Ségou. As in the entire film, the emotion is strong, the music joyous.
Los Angeles Times
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Despite the urgency of the situation the musicians face, when they’re not doing their work, the movie is quiet, observant, taking in the austere beauty of the land and the people. In a blink-and-you-miss-it shot, a young girl is seen crossing a dirt road, leading a younger boy with one hand and holding a machete in the other. It provokes a shudder, while the scenes in which the musicians play together elicit jubilation.
The New York Times
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In the sweeping road movie MALI BLUES, film director Lutz Gregor contrasts negative coverage about Africa being a continent of poverty and crisis with positive images about passionate artists and performers. Simultaneously, his documentary can be seen as a statement for peace and tolerance, it warns of the concept of Islam as the undifferenciated enemy. It looks back on Mali’s music as musical world heritage, on the roots of Blues and Jazz that West African slaves brought to the North American cotton fields.
Programmkino
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The camera captures meaningful impressions from everyday life, that mostly take place outdoors. (..) When people sing and dance an irrepressible joie de vivre breaks through, which can also be observed in the beautifully filmed concert sequences. (...) Lutz Gregors' film shows with great immediacy how Malis' musical tradition arises the social spirit of resistance, that could not only stop seriously the Islamists in the country in the future.
Kino-Zeit
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"Mali Blues" gives a strong sensual impression and raises a lot of questions. A pleasant alternative to overexplaining documentaries.
piqd
27 Sept 2016 -
The German documentary filmmaker Lutz Gregor succeeds in creating a fascinating documentary about the music of this small country, which can be seen as a mouthpiece for peace and reconciliation.
Cinetastic
26 Sept 2016 -
Lutz Gregor’s intimate and moving Mali Blues looks at the plight of the Malian people - since music was banned by the jihadi takeover of the country’s north - through the eyes of four Malian musicians.With a keen cinematic eye backed up by a hypnotic guitar groove, Gregor gives us the backstories of Fatoumata Diawara, Ahmed Ag Kaedi (pictured on our cover), Bassekou Kouyaté and Master Soumy . Heweaves them in and out of ordinary people in close-up and scenes that take us from Bamako to the desert, showing how integral music is to all of their lives. It’s essential viewing, especially if you missed hearing Diawara in her 2014 Koerner Hall concert (with Kouyaté on ngoni) or seeing her memorable performance in Abderrahmane Sissako’s Timbuktu.
The Whole Note
31 Aug 2016 -
Another film tip for music fans: "Mali Blues" by Lutz Gregor follows jazz and blues up to their roots to West Africa, where musicians are pursued by idiotic zealots. Because music is forbidden. Because education is forbidden and dangerous for both those who want to rule. Some of the protagonists of the documentary, as Bassekou Kouyate, we had last year here in the Ruhr area, experience specifically in Bahnhof Langendreer, live.
Trailer Ruhr
25 Aug 2016 -
With her radiant voice and magnetic presence, Fatoumata Diawara is a rising star in world music. In Mali Blues, we follow her as she returns to her country to give her first home concert. Along the way, we meet other great Mali musicians: the Griot Bassekou Kouyaté, rapper Master Soumy, and Tuareg guitarist Ahmed Ag Kaedi, who fled the northern desert under threats by fundamentalists. The film is a powerful testament to their artistry and resilience.
We got this covered
22 Aug 2016 -
Lutz Gregor’s musical portrait acts as a source of hope and confidence, it impresses with a conclusive narrative, intelligent editing and exquisite photography as well as the highly rhythmical music from a country that is regarded as the cradle of Blues: a promising candidate for the audience award!
Die Rheinpfalz
1 Jul 2016 -
MALI BLUES, a documentary that will surely please not only the music lovers. It is a film for culture and politics interested.
BR
16 Jun 2016 -
What was his approch to make this Film? - Interesting interview with Mali Blues director Gregor Lutz.
Visions du Réel
10 Mai 2016
