Genghis Blues
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Movie Reviews of Genghis Blues
Movie Review: Reawakening the spirit
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a scenario not even Richard Feynman could have imagined when he helped to form Friends of Tuva. Thanks to this group's effort to bring Tuvan throat singers to San Francisco, Paul Pena was able to realize a dream that lifted him out of the depths of dispair and take part in the tri-annual Tuvan throat singing competition in Kyzyl. This remarkable story not only tells the tale of Paul Pena, best known for penning Jet Airliner, but of the unconquerable spirit of Tuvans who for centuries were subjected to Chinese and Russian rule. Deep in their throats they came up with a harmony that has beguiled musicians the world over. But, it was Paul Pena who seemed to unlock the mystery to the western ear and not only take part but win over the Tuvan audience with his brand of kargyraa style singing. The most amazing part of the story to me is that in order to learn Tuvan, Paul had to learn Russian in Braile in order to translate the words into English, since Tuvan was so rarely heard beyond the steppes of Asia.
This film is so deeply satisfying in its honest presentation of events by the Belic brothers. The enormity of such an undertaking hit them like a thunderbolt when Mario Castella, one of the few other Americans to appreciate Tuvan throat singing had a heart attack, and Paul was running low on medication to treat his depression. Worried that it might be the drum the crew had bought as a souvenier, Kongar-ol Ondar, who had befriended Paul, had the evil spirit removed by a shaman. The storm passed and Paul and the crew were able to enjoy the remaining days in Tuva with Kongar taking them to his home village where he was finally able to get Paul up on a horse and complete this incredible journey.
This is a film you will want to purchase so that you can watch it again and again. It opens up a new vista for those unfamiliar with this incredible music, bringing it home by showing you its wellspring and introducing you to the marvelous Tuvan people, through the ear of a very special man, Paul Pena.
Movie Review: One of the most moving documentaries you'll ever see
Summary: 5 Stars
A blind bluesman teaches himself harmonic singing after listening to Radio Moscow play music from a region of the world few people have ever heard of. That is how Genghis Blues begins, and as the film goes on, the story gets even stranger and more awe-inspiring.Paul Pena is an American bluesman who has been around for a while and has played with various luminaries including BB King and T-Bone Walker. You may have encountered his name as the songwriter of "Jet Airliner" which was a big hit for the Steve Miller Band. Paul's life was that of your typical(?) blind bluesman until the early 90's when his wife died. He then spent his nights listening to his shortwave radio when he heard Tuvan throat singing for the first time. Remarkably enough, he taught himself to sing in that style which involves producing more than one and up to four notes at once (harmonic singing). He impresses a visiting Tuvan throat singer so much that he is invited to the triennial Tuvan national throat singing competition in Tuva. A few other people including the documentary makers tag along with him to Tuva for the competition. He astounds the Tuvan people with his skill in singing in the Kargyraa style and wins that part of the competition.
That's a brief synopsis of the movie, but it doesn't begin to capture the beauty of this story. Paul Pena sturggles everyday with his blindness. He has struggled with his wife's death and has major depressive disorder. As we see in the film, music is his primary way of communicating with the world. Through his music, he becomes brothers with the most renowned of the Tuvan throat singers, Kongor-ol Kondor. He immediately captures the hearts of his Tuvan audience when he flawlessly performs a famous Tuvan melody on stage and follows this up with a Tuvan song that he wrote himself. I can go on and on about touching moments that are captured in this movie, but I can't do them justice. You must see this movie for yourself, and I hope you are as inspired by it as I am.
Movie Review: Don't let this one pass you by!
Summary: 5 Stars
Being a sometime listener of Tuvan music, I rented this one expecting something like a music video. There is plenty of great music here to be sure, but its just a sideline to the real story, which is a personal and spiritual journey of discovery. There are many threads here: dealing with the limitations of blindness and depression, the arduous journey to the remote outpost of Tuva, and of course, the cultural and linguistic barriers encountered upon arriving. The manner in which Pena faces and overcomes these obstacles is nothing short of inspiring.The filmmakers provided excellent insight into what it's like to be blind, and indeed, into the soul of Paul Pena himself; I truly felt acquainted with the man when the end credits rolled. What also came through was the incredible openness and warmth of the Tuvan people; what else can you say about a people who give a total outsider their highest award despite (or because of) the fact that he took their music and transformed it into something uniquely personal?
This could well be the best film I've seen this year, and I recommend it without reservation to absolutely anyone. It's an oasis of pure humanity and hope in the cultural desert, and the perfect antidote to the oh-so-hip cynicism that afflicts most media these days. And after watching it, you may find yourself actually liking some of that weird throat-singing stuff...
Movie Review: Against All Odds
Summary: 5 Stars
Where the heck is Tuva? Some of my Russian American friends didn't even know. It's a small autonomous region in Russia just north of Mongolia with an almost Scrabble word name for a capital: Kyzyl. And what is throat singing? One person, one throat, singing four notes simultaneously. Now imagine yourself learning throat singing...from something you heard on a shortwave radio late one night...when you're blind and you live in San Francisco by yourself ...and just to start learning the words, let alone the technique, you have to translate one word at a time from Tuvan to Russian to English to Braille...and you learn the technique well enough to enter a throat singing contest...in Tuva. This is a BIG story which could be almost a cliche but is most decidedly not: a story of the triumph of the human spirit, deep friendship, perseverance against overwhelming odds, adventure, commitment, teamwork, dedication, agape...all with a little National Geographic thrown in - much is filmed against the stunning scenery of Tuva - a kind of modern day "Lost Horizons." I saw the movie at the instigation of some musician friends. We shed tears during at least half the movie - when we left the theatre, we saw nary a dry eye. Oh...and the music is killer.Movie Review: Throat Singing with a blues twist
Summary: 5 Stars
I was first introduced to Paul Pena through the Documentary that aired on TV. I had heard throat singing back when I was a small child living here in Alaska. When I heard "Earthquake" sing, I was instantly transported back to that time in Anaktuvuk Pass Alaska, where the Greenlanders where in a song festival, but Paul was so much better. He really did put his trust in the Friends of Tuva to go off, half way aroung the world, in the first place. When he got there he was kept in a whirl and somewhat out of his element, but he prevailed with style and the same grace that he's had for so many years. He entered the Triennial Khoomei Competition, in the Kargyrua category for his rendition of Kargyraa Moan. He was by far the most popular entertainer there at the contest judging from the fact that they wouldn't let him off the stage.Unfortunatly he has been very ill for the last couple of years and I feel that this is a testiment to his very special talent. I also enjoyed the DVD which had added attractions of additional concert footage.
Although this isn't main stream it is well worth the money to see one of the treasures live and in action... I highly recommend this DVD to everybody!