This is a film fest film recommended to me by Peter B, Head of English at O.C.
It's about the Senegalese singer Youssou N'Dour, and deals specifically with the release of his album "Egypt", which sparked huge controversy in Senegal when released in the month of Ramadan (N'Dour is a Sufi Muslim, a sect to which 94% of Senegalese belong to).
The movie is an inspiration to musicians, particularly those working in the area of "religious music", and much of what N'Dour says about his work could as easily apply to Christian musicians (musicians of any faith in fact).
N'Dour comes across as a sincere, devout and visionary musician, albeit with a humble and humorous self-disregard (at one stage he comments that he still feels like a 15-year-old when he talks with his father!).
The footage of N'Dour visiting various concert halls, mosques and markets is filled with colour - Sufi Islam is a colourful sect, judging by the costumes we see on display!
We see clips of concerts and interviews and political events - my favourite moments were the concert in Fez (an amazing concert hall, with N'Dour bedecked in wonderful silk outfits, all very warmly lit in the colours we would expect in Morocco, plus footage of N'Dour singing in the early 80s with Peter Gabriel when-he-had-hair (yeah, look who's talking!).
But the real star of this movie IS the soundtrack.
One day I would like to find out how these Arabic orchestras work - the sound is amazing, there appears to be a combination of formality and improvisation - whatever it is, the music is transcendent, deep and uplifting.
Not for everyone, but for those wantinmg to explore "otherness", absolutely rewarding.
G.
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