Throw Down Your Heart (2008)

A film crew follows the well-known banjo player Bela Fleck on his travels to Africa, where he learns about the instrument's origins.

Director:

Sascha Paladino

Stars:

Bela Fleck, The Jatta Family, Bassékou Kouyaté

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Credited cast:
Bela Fleck	...	Himself
The Jatta Family
Bassékou Kouyaté	...	Himself
Anania Ngoliga	...	Himself
Oumou Sangare	...	Herself
Djelimady Tounkara	...	Himself
Haruna Walusimbi	...	Himself

Storyline

A film crew follows the well-known banjo player Bela Fleck on his travels to Africa, where he learns about the instrument's origins.

---

Plot Keywords:

travel | banjo | africa | xylophone | west africa | 

---

Genres:

Documentary | Family | Music

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Bambara Jola-Fonyi Swahili

Release Date:

March 2008 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Gambia

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,827, 15 March 2009, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$88,580, 19 July 2009

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Quotes

Haruna Walusimbi: There is this negative thinking about Africa. There is nothing good in Africa. They are beggars, there is HIV/AIDS, they are at war all the time. But that is just a very small bit of what Africa is.

---

Connections

Featured in Cameraperson (2016)

User Reviews

An Excellent Journey Through Music

My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this quite by accident, but what followed was an incredible film not only about music, but of the human spirit. Bela Fleck is an incredible musician who wants to show the world that the banjo, an instrument used to illustrate the "Hillbilly" stereotypes (usually thought to be a racist/ignorant group) was actually brought to the US from Africa. He goes to small villages and big cities, where he jams with others using instruments both new and unknown. And the music they make is incredible.

If you're a fan of great music or enjoy seeing another part of the world and how they live, please give this documentary a watch. The songs are wonderful and watching the people play them on their handmade instruments is an incredible joy!

Music is a universal language, and this film really goes a long way to prove that.