In the sixties, the people of Mali awoke each morning to the sound of Boubacar ("KarKar" to his fans and friends) Traoré's voice on the radio, singing of independence. Everyone in Mali remembers having danced to his hits. But because his music was played only on the radio, he didn't earn enough money to live on, and became a tailor and a salesman to feed his family.

Revered as the Malian Elvis, Traoré introduced the Twist to Mali in the late 1950's and sang songs of independence to an entire generation. Then, both his life and his country's struggles spiraled into tragedy, leaving Traoré somewhere between myth and obscurity, before a music producer sought him out and revived his career.

Director Jacques Sarasin's lyrical presentation of an artist's legacy transports us to the vibrant sun-dappled landscape of Mali and surrounds us with the delicate yet powerful rhythms of the country's most famous musician.

"With a generous serving of music, fantastic black and white photos and newsreels, and vibrantly filmed footage of modern-day Mali, director Jacques Sarasin tracks Traoré's journey in this hypnotically beautiful film."—LA Weekly

"Scintillating!"—Variety

" * * * * [4 stars!] Takes your heart when you least expect it."—Christian Science Monitor

"Lovely, lyrical.... A poignant, finally joyous experience."—The Film Society of Lincoln Center

"A Revelation!"—Boston Globe