Synopsis: Paul Simon’s historic Graceland album sold millions of copies and united cultures, yet divided world opinion on the boundaries of art, politics, and commerce. On the occasion of the twenty-fifth anniversary of Graceland’s release, Simon returns to South Africa for a reunion concert that unearths the turbulent birth of the album. Despite its huge success as a popular fusion of American and African musical styles, Graceland spawned intense political crossfire. Simon was accused of breaking the United Nations’ cultural boycott of South Africa, which was designed to end apartheid. Renowned filmmaker Joe Berlinger brilliantly intertwines both sides of a complex story as Simon revisits old ghosts and gains insights on his own musical journey. With the compelling perceptions of antiapartheid activists and music legends such as Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Paul McCartney, and David Byrne, Under African Skies is both a buoyant chronicle of unparalleled artistic achievement and a profound rumination on the role of the artist in society. [Synopsis courtesy of Sundance Film Festival]
SnagFilms has acquired exclusive digital rights to a number of new films, including "We Made This Movie," directed by "Late Show With David Letterman" executive producer Rob Burnett; drama "Faces in the Mirror," directed by Boyd Tinsley of Dave Matthews Band; and &...
Read More »This weekly column is intended to provide reviews of nearly every new indie release. This week's capsules are written by Indiewire's Chief Film Critic, Eric Kohn along with other contributors as noted.
Read More »Amidst a solid weekend of new releases, "Sleepless Night" and "Under African Skies" lead the way with the highest averages.
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