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Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love

Play trailer Poster for Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love PG Released Jun 12, 2009 1h 42m Documentary Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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83% Tomatometer 24 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
African singer Youssou N'Dour ignites controversy in his native Senegal and other Muslim countries by recording and releasing an album about Islam.

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Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love

Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love

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Critics Consensus

It never gets close enough to its subject, and it's curiously light on music, but this documentary is nonetheless a long-overdue tribute to a brilliant musician.

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Critics Reviews

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David Fear Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 18, 2011 Full Review Hank Sartin Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Ann Hornaday Washington Post By far the most powerful element is N'Dour's lone voice, a thing of high, pure beauty that feels at once ancient and new. When he sings, an otherwise earnestly conventional film becomes a vehicle of incantatory power. Oct 16, 2009 Full Review Dennis Schwartz Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews Inspirational concert film. Rated: B- Sep 6, 2009 Full Review Rob Lowman Los Angeles Daily News When the music starts playing, it's easy to forgive the film's flaws. Rated: 3/4 Jul 17, 2009 Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice An inspiring and edifying cinematic exploration of the power of music and the soul of a big-hearted African Sufi singer who has used his exceptional talent and creativity to make a better world. Rated: 5/5 Jul 4, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member "Egypt" was N'dour's most ambitious album yet. An album that was religious and spiritual as it was epic and creative. But then his native Senegal couldn't wrap their heads around it, asking why he was making some religious record, and high Islamic groups protested it saying music like that is not to be sung. The documentary looks into N'dour's life, his success, emotional high and downfall, and obviously, and one man's powerful voice and spirit. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/18/23 Full Review Audience Member Avoid at all costs a real stinker Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member YOUSSOU N'DOUR: I BRING WHAT I LOVE is a gorgeously photographed, music infused cinematic portrait of world famous Senegalese pop sensation Youssou N?Dour. Best known in the West for his collaborations with Bono and Peter Gabriel, N?Dour is one of the most beloved musicians in pop music and his legendary career has spanned decades. In 2004, responding to negative perceptions about his Muslim faith, N?Dour recorded EGYPT, a deeply spiritual album dedicated to a more tolerant view of Islam. In a critical and career-defining moment, the album was awarded the 2004 Grammy® for BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM. While Western audiences embraced N?Dour?s brave musical message, it encountered a serious religious backlash in his native country of Senegal where N?Dour is considered a national hero. Local critics and the media accused him of insulting Islam, arguing that pop and religious music should not mix. Combining unprecedented images of Senegal?s most sacred Muslim rituals, vibrant concert performances filmed around the world, and intimate access to N?Dour and his family, I BRING WHAT I LOVE chronicles the difficult path this remarkable artist must take. It is a stirring journey of faith, redemption, and the power of music to overcome intolerance. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member I bring what I love, Twizzlers, Gummi Bears and Old Milwaukee Light shoved into my pockets as someone lets me in through the side exit at the movies. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 02/17/23 Full Review Audience Member YOUSSOU N'DOUR: I BRING WHAT I LOVE is a gorgeously photographed, music infused cinematic portrait of world famous Senegalese pop sensation Youssou N'Dour. Best known in the West for his collaborations with Bono and Peter Gabriel, N'Dour is one of the most beloved musicians in pop music and his legendary career has spanned decades. In 2004, responding to negative perceptions about his Muslim faith, N'Dour recorded EGYPT, a deeply spiritual album dedicated to a more tolerant view of Islam. In a critical and career-defining moment, the album was awarded the 2004 Grammy® for BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM. While Western audiences embraced N'Dour's brave musical message, it encountered a serious religious backlash in his native country of Senegal where N'Dour is considered a national hero. Local critics and the media accused him of insulting Islam, arguing that pop and religious music should not mix. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/27/23 Full Review Audience Member the only movie that has made me cry so far this year.. so beautiful Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love

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Movie Info

Synopsis African singer Youssou N'Dour ignites controversy in his native Senegal and other Muslim countries by recording and releasing an album about Islam.
Director
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Screenwriter
Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
Distributor
Shadow Distribution
Production Co
Groovy Griot, 57th & Irving Productions
Rating
PG (Brief Smoking|Thematic Elements)
Genre
Documentary, Music
Original Language
Arabic
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 12, 2009, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 25, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$167.4K
Runtime
1h 42m
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