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Mali Blues

Play trailer 2:19 Poster for Mali Blues 2017 1h 33m Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 9 Reviews 96% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
World music star Fatoumata Diawara prepares for her performance at the 2015 Festival of the Niger, her first in her home country of Mali.

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Mali Blues

Critics Reviews

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Kenneth Turan Los Angeles Times 07/06/2017
Music documentaries are thick on the land, and political ones are numerous as well, but "Mali Blues" is different in that it artfully combines hypnotic music with definite societal concerns. Go to Full Review Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter 07/03/2017
Mali Blues should appeal both to world music fans and anyone interested in the increasing tensions between secular and religious forces in Africa. Go to Full Review Glenn Kenny New York Times 06/30/2017
Despite the urgency of the situation the musicians face, when they're not doing their work, the movie is quiet, observant, taking in the austere beauty of the land and the people. Go to Full Review Joanne Laurier World Socialist Web Site 07/08/2020
...one cannot perhaps expect the musicians, who create some of the world's most exquisite music, to speak knowingly about complex geopolitics. But the filmmakers have a greater responsibility. Go to Full Review Michael McNeely That Shelf 02/15/2019
While a bit long and unfocused in scope, it is well worth getting to know Diawara and company, even if just to see passion doing its magic. Go to Full Review Alysia Urrutia Cinema Scope 11/11/2017
You might remember her minor but memorable performance in the Oscar-nominated Timbuktu (2014), but in Lutz Gregor's Mali Blues singer Fatoumata Diawara's electrifying pizzazz rightfully earns her the spotlight. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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03/29/2020 Beautiful music, and really important story of the political context for musicians in Mali. See more 07/29/2017 In the same class as Buena Vista Social Club. A must for any fan of music and the role it plays in promoting peace and progress in Mali. Fatou is charming. See more Read all reviews
Mali Blues

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Lutz Gregor

Director

Fatoumata Diawara

Self

Christian Beetz

Producer

Kerstin Meyer-Beetz

Executive Producer

Axel Schneppat

Cinematographer

Markus Schmidt

Film Editing

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Mali Blues

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Mali Blues

Mali Blues (2016) A scene from "Mali Blues." A scene from "Mali Blues." A scene from "Mali Blues." A scene from "Mali Blues." A scene from "Mali Blues." A scene from "Mali Blues." A scene from "Mali Blues." Mali Blues (2016) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis World music star Fatoumata Diawara prepares for her performance at the 2015 Festival of the Niger, her first in her home country of Mali.
Director
Lutz Gregor
Producer
Christian Beetz
Distributor
Icarus Films
Genre
Documentary, Music
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 30, 2017, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 20, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$21.8K
Runtime
1h 33m
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