Genghis Blues

Starring:B.B. King, Richard Feynman, Kongar-ol Ondar, Paul Pena
Director: Roko Belic
Studio: New Video Group
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
The ancient art of Tuvan throat singing may not sound like the most scintillating subject for a movie, but for those wishing to immerse themselves in a different culture or meet remarkable people, this inspiring and exhilarating Oscar-nominated documentary will be pure pleasure. This is a story no Hollywood screenwriter could have imagined. Paul Pena is a blind San Francisco blues singer who has played with the likes of John Lee Hooker and Jerry Garcia (he also penned "Jet Airliner," which Steve Miller covered). One night while listening to his shortwave radio, he picked up a Radio Moscow broadcast and heard the mesmerizing, gutteral sound of throat singing, which is peculiar to Tuva's region of upper Mongolian. Enthralled, he became a master of this obscure art form. Enter Friends of Tuva, a curious group that included Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, who likewise had become fascinated with Tuva. In 1993 they sponsored a San Francisco appearance by Tuvan singers. Pena was in the audience and met with the singers afterward. Pena so impressed the Tuvans that he was encouraged to come to Tuva and participate in its annual festival competition. Genghis Blues chronicles this incredible journey. Pena's performance is as joyous and triumphant as the Buena Vista Social Club's Carnegie Hall concert, but this is more than just a one-note concert film. It also movingly charts Pena's friendship with revered Tuvan singer Kongar-ol Ondar (whose stature is described as "John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jordan rolled into one"). Documentarians Roko and Adrian Belic modestly profess they were ill equipped to make this documentary. They may have a point, but would you pass up such an opportunity? --Donald Liebenson
Description
Paul Pena heard a sound -- something intensely beautiful but disturbing at the same time -- coming from his short-wave radio. The sound was that of Tuvan throat-singers, a sound that changed his life forever and sent him on a journey across the world to

Average customer rating:

Fantastic DVD

An interesting voyage

Genghis Blues

Really good, something for everyone in this doco/film.

Really Neat Video!

Genghis Blues
Starring: B.B. King , Paul Pena , Richard Feynman , and Kongar-ol Ondar
Director: Roko Belic
Manufacturer: New Video Group
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00004YKS7
Release Date: 2000-12-05

Amazon.com

The ancient art of Tuvan throat singing may not sound like the most scintillating subject for a movie, but for those wishing to immerse themselves in a different culture or meet remarkable people, this inspiring and exhilarating Oscar-nominated documentary will be pure pleasure. This is a story no Hollywood screenwriter could have imagined. Paul Pena is a blind San Francisco blues singer who has played with the likes of John Lee Hooker and Jerry Garcia (he also penned "Jet Airliner," which Steve Miller covered). One night while listening to his shortwave radio, he picked up a Radio Moscow broadcast and heard the mesmerizing, gutteral sound of throat singing, which is peculiar to Tuva's region of upper Mongolian. Enthralled, he became a master of this obscure art form. Enter Friends of Tuva, a curious group that included Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman, who likewise had become fascinated with Tuva. In 1993 they sponsored a San Francisco appearance by Tuvan singers. Pena was in the audience and met with the singers afterward. Pena so impressed the Tuvans that he was encouraged to come to Tuva and participate in its annual festival competition. Genghis Blues chronicles this incredible journey. Pena's performance is as joyous and triumphant as the Buena Vista Social Club's Carnegie Hall concert, but this is more than just a one-note concert film. It also movingly charts Pena's friendship with revered Tuvan singer Kongar-ol Ondar (whose stature is described as "John F. Kennedy, Elvis Presley, and Michael Jordan rolled into one"). Documentarians Roko and Adrian Belic modestly profess they were ill equipped to make this documentary. They may have a point, but would you pass up such an opportunity? --Donald Liebenson

Description

Paul Pena heard a sound -- something intensely beautiful but disturbing at the same time -- coming from his short-wave radio. The sound was that of Tuvan throat-singers, a sound that changed his life forever and sent him on a journey across the world to

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic DVD.......2007-06-29

As all the other reviews have put so well - a great DVD and an inspiring story - especially if you are a musician or someone going through hard times.

An interesting voyage.......2007-06-18

A blind San Francisco blues singer, on his own, learns the art of Tuvan throat singing. By chance, he is invited to an international competition in Tuva, which is located just north of Mongolia.

A pair of aspiring documentary film makers make the trip with him.

There's nothing earth shattering in the film. Rather, it is a very human story of a blind man with a unique talent visiting a very old culture. Some of the scenes are jarring in their discordancy. For example, young Tuvan children, dressed in blue jeans and other Western fashions learning a skill that is perhaps thousands of years old.

Music is indeed the universal solvent as this Californian builds relationships with a native Tuvan throatsinger.

All in all, it's a pleasant movie that tells the story of a man, an exotic skill and an ancient culture all at once.

Jerry

Genghis Blues.......2007-05-26

My husband and I have purchased this DVD and we have watched it 3 times. We just loved it. This DVD is a great gift for people who are open minded and who are interested in other cultures and customs. Our friends loved it. What a great story that connects us all so deeply. I highly recommend it.

Really good, something for everyone in this doco/film........2007-04-29

considering that this movie was done on budget, by two inexperianced film makers taking a blind man half way across the world, I can imagine a lot of people would think it was poorly done.

I think its really amazing. I've watched it several times with arabs, english, americans, australians etc all of which peoples interests varied from sports, music,auditing,books, arts, cars and programming. Everyone found something of value in this documentary.

I dont want to go on about it, but if this sounds like your sort of thing go for it. I think its worth it and will refer to this as a present for people (some, not everyone) in the future as well as an active lender on my dvd shelf

Really Neat Video!.......2007-04-19

This is one to watch especially if you're a music fan or have been following Rock and R&B over the years. This guy was a hidden gem. As others have said, its a pity a musician of his caliber wasn't given his due. The guy, agent, producer, or whatever he was who screwed up his career by not producing his early album was certainly a piece of work! He deprived the world of learning about an exceptional talent.
Also, it was interesting to see the beautiful country around Tuva, such a remote country and yet the people were surprisingly like us here in the US in many ways. Also, the resemblance to our Native Americans was interesting. Validates the theory of the early migration over the Siberian-Alaska land bridge in my mind.
Watch this video!

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