Le film retrace l’enregistrement de l’album « Egypt », sorti en 2004 qui lui a valu le Grammy award (USA) en 2005 ainsi que la vie du lead vocal du Super étoile.
La réalisatrice Chai Vasarhelyi (américaine de père brésilien) suit Youssou Ndour durant plus de deux ans – filmant en Afrique, Europe, et Amérique – pour raconter comment l’artiste sénégalais a su sortir du carcan de la culture griotique ainsi que la manière dont il a gagné le public national et international.

USA, 1h42

distribué par Tamasa Distribution
Ventes Internationales: Celluloid Dreams

Uma infusão musical, uma jornada cinematográfica. O poder da voz do homem, capaz de inspirar inúmeras mudanças. Descrito pela revista Rolling Stones como « o cantor com uma voz tão extraordinária, que a história da África parece sintetizar-se nela », Youssou NDour ligou dois mundos – de estrela pop moderna, artista mais vendido no mercado africano em todos os tempos, ao de contador de histórias. Quando criança, ele seguiu os passos de sua avó e começou a cantar em eventos religiosos. Aos 23 anos, seu nome ganhou fama na Europa e na Ásia. Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love é um álbum que convida o Egito a ser mais tolerante ante o islamismo e que ultrapassou o domínio dos venerados cantores tradicionais religiosos. A diretora acompanha NDour por dois anos – na África, Europa e América – para contar a história de como é lidar com esse desafio e ganhar mais fãs em sua terra natal e no exterior.

diretor: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
roteiro: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
fotografia: Scott Duncan, Nick Doob, Jojo Pennebaker, Hugo Berkeley
montagem: Jonathan Oppenheim, Fernando Villena
música: Martin Davich, James Newton Howard
elenco: Youssou Ndour, Fathy Salama, Kabou Gueye, Peter Gabriel

produtor:Chai Vasarhelyi

produtora
Groovy Griot/57th, Irving Productions

world sales
Celluloid Dreams

102 minutos color, 35mm

__________________________


Is a music-infused cinematic journey about the power of one man’s voice to inspire change. Described by Rolling Stone as »a singer with a voice so extraordinary the history of Africa seems locked inside it. » Youssou Ndour bridges two worlds – that of a modern pop star, the highest selling African artist of all time, and a West African griot, a traditional musical storyteller. As a child, he followed in his grandmother’s footsteps and began singing at religious events; by the age of 23, he had become a household name from Europe to Asia. Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love as a deeply personal and religious album called Egypt in the hope of promoting a more tolerant face of Islam. He trespasses into the domain of revered traditional religious singers. Director Chai Vasarhelyi follows Ndour for over two years – filming in Africa, Europe, and America – to tell the story of how he faces these challenges and eventually wins over audiences both at home and abroad.


Country: USA
Year: 2008
Languages: English, French, Wolof, Arabic

A Groovy Griot Films Presentation in Association with 57th & Irving Productions

director: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
screenplay: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi
cinematographer: Scott Duncan, Nick Doob, Jojo Pennebaker, Hugo Berkeley
edition: Jonathan Oppenheim, Fernando Villena
music: Martin Davich, James Newton Howard
Sound: Tom Fleishman, Deborah Wallach, Joeseph Debeasi, Dan Lieberstein

Principal Cast: Youssou Ndour, Fathy Salama, Kabou Gueye, Peter Gabriel

Executive Producers: Jack Turner, Edward Tyler Nahem, Patrick Morris, Jennifer Millstone, Miklos C. Vasrahelyi, Kathryn Tucker

producer: Chai Vasarhelyi
Co-Producers: Sarah Price, Scott Duncan, Hugo Berkeley
production companies: Groovy Griot/57th, Irving Productions
world sales: Celluloid Dreams
France Distribution Rights: Tamasa Distribution
US Distribution Rights: Oscilloscope Laboratories

102 minutes, color, 35mm


Oscilloscope Pictures (Adam Yauch) will release the film in theaters throughout the USA beginning June 2009.
Tamasa Distribution will release the film in theaters throughout France beginning 14 June 2010.

FESTIVALS / AWARDS / SCREENINGS

2008 | 32ème Festival international du film de São Paulo | SAO PAULO, Brésil | 17 > 30 octobre 2008 | www.mostra.org
* Meilleur Documentaire étranger (Best Foreign Documentary – Audience Award)

2008 | 2ème Festival international du film du Moyen-Orient | ABOU DHABI | 10 > 19 octobre 2008
* Prix spécial du jury (125 000 US $ : environ 60 millions de Francs Cfa)

2008 | Festival international du film de Toronto | TORONTO, Canada |
* Selection