Music its magic and mystery, play a role the lives of the people who create it or surround it, and the impact it has on society always pops up as intriguing subject matter for documentaries – whether it be rock, jazz, or indigenous vibes.
These are the doccies that focus on music.
Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg
Take the captivating and deliciously surprising Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg (USA) directed by Alexis Bloom and Svetlana Zill, a film which will have audiences mesmerized. This is an intimate and extraordinary documentary about the life of maverick and legendary actress, model, and artist Anita Pallenberg. Produced by Marlon Richards, her son with Rolling Stones’ Keith Richards, the film is based on an unpublished memoir found after her death and is a portal into a world of a creative force well ahead of her time. Using 8mm home movie footage as well as a string of fascinating interviews including Marlon, his sister Angela Richards, their father Keith, and supermodel Kate Moss whom Anita mentored.
Then Playing the Changes – Tracking Darius Brubeck (Netherlands/Poland/South Africa/United Kingdom) directed by Michiel Ten Kleij is a soulful lick of history, backed by the soundtrack of Darius’s father Dave’s nostalgic classics, making for a vibrant testament to the unifying potency of music. “Jazz, just by its nature, is subversive”. This quote from jazz pianist Darius Brubeck encapsulates his legacy and that of his famous father Dave Brubeck (see lead photo) with his typical modesty; without admitting that they too are subversive by nature. Both Brubecks pioneered socio-political change through their music. With his wife Cathy, Darius, this understated mentor, fledged South Africa’s budding jazz scene at the Moon Hotel in Durban, created the first formalised jazz degree in the country and empowered black students musically against the government’s wishes.
Ballaké Sissoko, Kora Tales
On a more traditional note Ballaké Sissoko, Kora Tales (France/Mali/Senegal ) directed by Lucy Durán and Laurent Benhamou tells the definitive story of the mythic West African harp, with one of its modern masters, Ballaké Sissoko, as our guide The kora is so integral to the culture of West Africa that the top players are akin to royalty. Over the past 50 years, the 21-stringed instrument has transcended its West African origins, becoming a truly global sound, with artists as diverse as Herbie Hancock, Bjork, and Damon Albarn among its devotees. Driven by the resonant rhythms of its two central subjects, this enchanting documentary is based on nearly half a century of research by co-director Lucy Durán.
In a fascinating lineup of documentaries from around the globe, this year’s Encounters South African International Documentary Festival offers over 45 films that promise to captivate and delight a myriad of interests and tastes at venues in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
WHAT: Music its Magic and Mystery – Encounters 2024
WHERE: Cape Town – Ster-Kinekor V&A Waterfront, The Labia Theatre | Johannesburg – The Zone @ Rosebank, The Bioscope Independent Cinema
WHEN: 20 to 30 June 2024
TICKETS: booking links can be found HERE
INFO: VISIT | See also ENCOUNTERS 2024 – the environment in focus on screen
Cape Town is placed 3rd in Time Out’s World’s Best Cities for Culture!
