13 Notes: Paul Simon's Graceland Journey
UNDER AFRICAN SKIES is a really great film in which Joe Berlinger travels back to South Africa with Paul -- his first trip back in 25 years, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the historic Graceland album. Paul reunites with the band to give a reunion concert and that present tense thread is then used to tell the story of the turbulent birth of the album. Despite its huge success, and despite it being the first popular/successful example of fusing American and African musical styles, it was initially met with tremendous political crossfire, as Paul was accused of breaking the UN cultural boycott of South Africa designed to end the Apartheid regime. Paul revisits these ghosts as the musical journey is explored. The film will feature interviews with Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, Harry Belafonte, David Byrne, Philip Glass, Lorne Michaels, Whoopi Goldberg, Quincy Jones, and Steve Van Zandt.