About the Film:
The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma & The Silk Road Ensemble is the extraordinary new film from Morgan Neville, the director of the Oscar®-winning documentary 20 Feet from Stardom. Spanning the globe, this is the celebratory story of the renowned international musical collective created by legendary cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The feature-length documentary follows this group of diverse instrumentalists, vocalists, composers, arrangers, visual artists and storytellers as they explore the power of music to preserve tradition, shape cultural evolution and inspire hope. - Written by Madman Entertainment
Film Review:
This documentary is about how Yo-Yo Ma (legendary cellist) formed a group of brilliant musicians and composers around the world and became The Silk Road Ensemble. An extraordinary story about music, language and culture and that all of these things are imperative in shaping one’s cultural identity. This documentary is very well recorded with a high level of the artistic element. As well as touching base on the critical issues that are very much happening and affecting everyone at present.
These issues are of war, the evolution of language and tradition and most importantly authenticity. Throughout the documentary, all of these things are explored in different levels and perspectives of the people involved and how it affects them personally. Their stories make their music unique from each other even from the country they grew up. They play as how they feel and incorporate their skills and background to their music. Therefore the sound they create is their own.
One of the many things I liked about this film was how it was edited to tell a story of the people who made the group a whole. And their journey of revisiting their homelands bringing with them life experiences outside their countries but keeping their traditions with them through music. It was fascinating to see their reactions and thoughts on the changes in their hometown as well as how their people perceive them as same but different in a way.
A brilliant documentary that focuses on delivering a non-linear time lapse of how The Silk Ensemble was born. Fantastic direction, cinematography and sound editing. It’s a highly entertaining and enjoyable experience as well as engaging to watch and learn about these great musicians trying to make a difference in the world. They are beautiful people making great music together- spreading hope around the world.
NZ Release Date: March 16, 2017