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Genghis Blues

Play trailer Poster for Genghis Blues 1999 1h 28m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
82% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
At once whimsical and profound, "Genghis Blues" chronicles the journey of blind blues legend Paul Pena as he discovers the ancient art of Tuvan throat singing and participates in the national competition. Belic's brand of freestyle filmmaking brings an infectious energy to this documentary, which is both a powerful, personal portrait of a musician and the story of a unique cultural exchange.

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Genghis Blues

Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times 01/01/2000
3.5/4
This is the kind of story that has to be true, because no novelist would dare to dream it up. Go to Full Review Jon Niccum The Pitch 11/13/2002
2/4
The film, like the music it spotlights, begins to drone. Go to Full Review Paula Nechak Seattle Post-Intelligencer 04/03/2002
B
Jeremiah Kipp Filmcritic.com 02/01/2001
4/5
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Audience Reviews

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11/12/2014 Es una gran historia aunque no muy bien llevada por los realizadores. Aún así es una permanente sorpresa, una vuelta por lo desconocido para casi todos. Pudo ser mejor es verdad, y hay evidentemente escenas que sobran, pero la sola intención vale la pena. See more 05/03/2014 It's unfortunate that the only two highlighted reviews here on RT are from ignorant assholes with zero empathy. It's one of the most heart-felt documentaries I've ever seen. I question the authenticity of those who apparently have never experienced sadness and true joy. See more 12/09/2013 Genghis Blues es un documental de dos mundos que jamás debieron encontrarse. El de un músico ciego americano, cantante de blues, que en tardes de ocio descubre una de las mayores manifestaciones artísticas humanas. Se trata de la música proveniente de la pequeña Tuva, una region al sur de Rusia, cerca de Mongolia, donde con el poder de la voz construyen una serie de sonidos que nada envidian a instrumentos occidentales. Desde entonces, Pena buscará conocer la cultura, y tendrá el viaje de su vida. Recomendable. See more 03/20/2013 A low budget production, but an interesting story about a blind blues singer from San Francisco who teaches himself the almost inhuman sounding techniques of Tuvan throat singing, and which takes him on a very unlikely journey. Immensely human. Worth watching. See more 02/19/2013 An extraordinary tale of music, acceptance and personal drama, it shows signs of being made of amateur filmmakers but the human drama is undeniable. See more 02/04/2013 One of the most unique documentaries out there. See more Read all reviews
Genghis Blues

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Roko Belic

Director

Kongar-ol Ondar

Self

Paul Pena

Self

B.B. King

Self

Richard Feynman

Himself (archive footage)

Roko Belic

Screenwriter

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Genghis Blues

Father and son tending to their hurd of camel. Their yurt in the background. Somewhere in Tuva. Two Tuvan wrestlers enguaged in battle with a referee/judge in the center. Spectators in the background. During a competition in the mountains of Tuva. Paul Pena and Kongarol Ondar jammin' together on the shores of the Hemchik River, where Kongarol Ondar was born. Paul Pena and Kongarol Ondar relaxing and playing Tuvan Blues in the desert of southern Tuva. Cerimonial sheep slauter at a mountain cabin. Somewhere in Tuva. Filmmakers Roko Belic (on the left), Adrian Belic (on the right) on location, Sayan Mountains in the background. Filmmakers, crew, Paul Pena, Kongarol Ondar, and Tuvan friends at the Center Of Asia Monument. Aldyn-ool, champion Tuvan wrestler, doing the Eagle Dance (a victory dance) after defeating an opponent during a wrestling competition in the mountains of Tuva. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis At once whimsical and profound, "Genghis Blues" chronicles the journey of blind blues legend Paul Pena as he discovers the ancient art of Tuvan throat singing and participates in the national competition. Belic's brand of freestyle filmmaking brings an infectious energy to this documentary, which is both a powerful, personal portrait of a musician and the story of a unique cultural exchange.
Director
Roko Belic
Producer
Adrian Belic, Roko Belic
Screenwriter
Roko Belic
Distributor
Roxie Releasing
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 9, 1999, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 20, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$323.9K
Runtime
1h 28m
Sound Mix
Surround, Dolby