Another great pick from the guys at the London Film Festival. I must admit I only saw this film as my first choice Night Train (www.imdb.com/title/tt1032941/) was sold out. But it turned out that I landed on my feet, as Goree was great.
If you've seen the film and you know your Classics, I should have stated the film is more a Musical Jason and The Golden Fleece then The Odyssey.
The film follows African Musician Youssou N'Dour's journey to bring Jazz back to Africa. His journey takes him from Atlanta to New York to a pre-Katrina New Orleans to Europe and ultimately to Africa and the Island of Goree in Dakar; Senegal in order to recruit musicians. The film is more than a series of Musical performances those are great by the way, it's also a spiritual journey.
The spiritual journey is best conveyed by the reactions of musicians Idris Muhammad and The Harmony Harmoneers. Idris comes over initially as a larger than life figure but once he's in Africa you get the impression that he's fulfilling something that has laid dormant in him. Likewise the Harmoneers, go thorough a change. You initially sense a tension between them and the other musicians N'Dour has recruited as they are last to be recruited. But they too, go through a transformation on a trip to Goree and the Fort where Slaves were kept before travelling to The Americas. Trust me you'll have a lump in your throat when you hear them sing a Gospel tune against the background of the Fort.
At the screening I attended the Director stated that Yossou may release the music from the film at a later date I do hope does. Likewise I hope the people of Dakar and Sengal get to see the film.
A really Great Musical film with a Spiritual element to it.
BN
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=14198203
If you've seen the film and you know your Classics, I should have stated the film is more a Musical Jason and The Golden Fleece then The Odyssey.
The film follows African Musician Youssou N'Dour's journey to bring Jazz back to Africa. His journey takes him from Atlanta to New York to a pre-Katrina New Orleans to Europe and ultimately to Africa and the Island of Goree in Dakar; Senegal in order to recruit musicians. The film is more than a series of Musical performances those are great by the way, it's also a spiritual journey.
The spiritual journey is best conveyed by the reactions of musicians Idris Muhammad and The Harmony Harmoneers. Idris comes over initially as a larger than life figure but once he's in Africa you get the impression that he's fulfilling something that has laid dormant in him. Likewise the Harmoneers, go thorough a change. You initially sense a tension between them and the other musicians N'Dour has recruited as they are last to be recruited. But they too, go through a transformation on a trip to Goree and the Fort where Slaves were kept before travelling to The Americas. Trust me you'll have a lump in your throat when you hear them sing a Gospel tune against the background of the Fort.
At the screening I attended the Director stated that Yossou may release the music from the film at a later date I do hope does. Likewise I hope the people of Dakar and Sengal get to see the film.
A really Great Musical film with a Spiritual element to it.
BN
http://www.imdb.com/mymovies/list?l=14198203