Theatrical release celebrates the 25th anniversary of Paul Simon's iconic Graceland album
UNDER AFRICAN SKIES documents the making of Paul Simon's legendary Graceland album, a record that created huge controversy when when Simon defied the United Nations and went to South Africa to record with local artists. The new full-length documentary, which recently garnered critical acclaim on the film festival circuit, is directed by two-time Emmy and Peabody Award winner and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Joe Berlinger ("Brother's Keeper," "Metallica: Some Kind of Monster," the West Memphis Three/"Paradise Lost" trilogy) and produced by producers@radical.media and A&E IndieFilms.
Featuring interviews with key anti-apartheid activists of the time and such musical legends as Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Paul McCartney, David Byrne and Peter Gabriel, UNDER AFRICAN SKIES travels with Simon back to South Africa, 25 years after his first visit. Berlinger's film recounts the making of the record and surveys the controversy surrounding it's genesis and the political turbulence created in its wake. His artistic decision to collaborate with South African musicians created a new world musical fusion, combining American and African musical idioms while igniting an intense political crossfire, with Simon accused of breaking the UN cultural boycott of South Africa designed to end the Apartheid regime.
On June 5th Legacy Recordings will release the official Graceland 25th Anniversary Edition CD/DVD - an exclusive two disc set featuring the remastered original album with five bonus tracks and audio documentary, and "Under African Skies" film with bonus features, three original music videos and "Saturday Night Live" performance of "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes."
Directed by: Joe Berlinger
Produced by: Joe Berlinger, Joan Kamen and Justin Wilkes
Release Date: May 11, 2012
Running Time: 102 minutes
Rating: not rated
Please Leave A Comment-
Comments