Le Mali 70
Markus CM Schmidt
A Berlin-based big band sets out on a road trip to explore the infamous brass sections of the seventies together with legendary musicians from Mali
Popular music has its roots in West Africa, and especially in Mali. A big band in Berlin discovers old vinyl from Mali’s big-band era – music that embodied the dreams of Malian independence before a coup brought an end to the legendary brass sections. Inspired by these songs, the Berliners travel to Mali in search of the heroes of their vinyl collections. While researching the origins of the songs, they marvel at old archive footage, resurrect the lost brass sections to play with forgotten Malian stars – often leading to heated arguments over the correct beats – and record an album in Salif Keita’s studio in Bamako.
"Markus CM Schmidt's documentary demonstrates an uncommon level of sensitivity and eye-level collaboration."
"Markus Schmidt, filmmaker and artistic director for the project, provides powerful images to accompany the Le Mali 70 recordings: the Berliners follow in their heroes’ footsteps through markets and bus stations, unexpectedly ending up in dusty backyards and clubs, rummaging through old film reels in the archives of Malian radio..."
"Thankfully, the film dispenses with picturesque images and dramatizing impressions of a country that is usually only mentioned in the German news when a government is overthrown, Islamist terrorists carry out attacks or some other seemingly ‘typical’ African catastrophe occurs. In contrast, Le Mali 70 takes a pleasantly unpretentious and reserved look at the country and its rich musical tradition, which is discussed in conversations between the musicians but is invoked above all in the spectacular black and white shots."
Director MARKUS CM SCHMIDT
Camera MATRIN LANGNER
Editor MARKUS CM SCHMIDT
Producer FLORIAN SCHEWE Co-Production FORMWILLEN (BERLIN)