While You Live, Shine

A mesmerizing look at the oldest known music in the Western world, through the eyes of a remarkable self-taught American musicologist. Having at first discovered recordings of the compositions on old 78 records, director Chris King travels to rural Epirus in Greece where he interviews locals and falls ever deeper into a magical land and culture. From educated youth from around the world to local shepherd boys, all participate in the ancient Paniyiri music festival. Participants start off prostrate on the ground in complete silence, then slowly rise to the sound of the lute and other age-old instruments. They proceed to dance trance-like until they achieve a state "where musician and dancer become one." Along the way, King delivers a powerful disquisition on the materialistic emptiness of modern American life and the importance of tradition, community and music to any society. His love for the music shoes through in every shot. If you let yourself really enter into these melodic, deeply soulful rhythms and the almost direct links to the beauty of traditions have survived seemingly unchanged since the Ancient World, you should experience a sense of deep satisfaction and yes, even joy. If you listen to what the filmmaker--and the music--is telling you, this important documentary could save you from wasting your time with self-help gurus so in vogue today.