Under African Skies (2012)
Average Rating: 8/10
Reviews Counted: 16
Fresh: 16 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
Average Rating: 8/10
Critic Reviews: 9
Fresh: 9 | Rotten: 0
No consensus yet.
liked it
Average Rating: 4.2/5
User Ratings: 209
My Rating
Movie Info
For the 25th anniversary of "Graceland," Paul Simon returns to South Africa for a historic reunion concert-and a look at his landmark album's turbulent birth. Interviewing anti-apartheid activists and music legends like Quincy Jones, Harry Belafonte, Paul McCartney and David Byrne, Berlinger's (Crude, Paradise Lost) new doc explores both the anatomy of a musical masterwork and the responsibilities of art. -- (C) IFC Center
May 11, 2012 Limited
IFC Films
- Official Site
Watch It Now
Cast
ADVERTISEMENT
All Critics (17) | Top Critics (9) | Fresh (17) | Rotten (0) | DVD (1)
The result is doubly satisfying: We get not only a trenchant political drama but a bang-up concert film as well.
Top CriticThe affection between the musicians and Simon is clear. The portrait that emerges time and again is personal and a reflection of the realities of apartheid.
[It] does an excellent job of recapitulating the controversies surrounding the album's creation without bearing down too heavily on old news, while subtly taking Mr. Simon's side against his critics.
It's a pleasant surprise that Under African Skies not only draws attention to the controversy surrounding its subject matter but digs into it a little.
A harmonious, fair-minded, energetic and enlightening portrait of one masterpiece's moment in time.
Powered by Paul Simon's brilliance, Under African Skies is a cultural lightning bolt that soars on its music and an unshakable belief in the transcendence of art.
UNDER AFRICAN SKIES is much smarter and more profound than most music documentaries. It's a powerful, beautifully executed film that entertains, informs and questions.
It's a blissful film, this work by Berlinger and co., a sheer privilege for the viewer to spend such quality time UNDER AFRICAN SKIES.
This absorbing documentary takes an up-close and intimate look at the musicians' creative process, then zooms out to recall the political turmoil that this landmark album left in its wake.
...Berlinger saves Under African Skies from that pedestrian course by his insistence on confronting the political issues Simon seems to have hoped would have faded by now.
Under African Skies takes what could have been a puff piece glossing over the protestations related to Graceland and teaches the controversy.
It does lightly suggest scintillating questions about the responsibility artists have in reflecting current political moments in their music.
Berlinger's doc expertly captures the debate of the time and where it's at now, 25 years later.
What's most exciting about Under African Skies is how it engages with whether artists have social and political responsibilities, and if so, what those might entail.
Audience Reviews for Under African Skies
Discussion Forum
There are no discussion threads for Under African Skies yet.
Latest News on Under African Skies
May 10, 2012:
Critics Consensus: Dark Shadows Doesn't Scare Up Enough LaughsThis week at the movies, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp reteam to spoof the 1970s horror soap opera...
What's Hot On RT
Every Star Trek movie listed
Star Trek is Certified Fresh
Forest Whitaker serves the White House
Trailer for Tom Hanks thriller
Featured on RT
- Weekly Ketchup: Will Smith to Star in Wild Bunch Remake? 31
- Critics Consensus: Star Trek Into Darkness is Certified Fresh 85
- Red Carpet Roundup: Star Trek Into Darkness Edition 0
- Video Interviews with Katie Aselton & Lake Bell of Black Rock 2
- VIP Access: Eli Roth talks Aftershock 1
- Total Recall: Star Trek Movies 88
- Parental Guidance: Star Trek Into Darkness 18
Top Headlines
-
J.J. Abrams Talks Star Trek Into Darkness, Star Wars, and More
0
-
Vin Diesel Says Fast & Furious 7 Will Begin a New Trilogy
4
-
Mickey Rourke Confirmed for Expendables 3
3
-
Brad Bird Still Mulling Incredibles 2
0
-
Reese Witherspoon, Jena Malone, and Martin Short Join Inherent Vice
0
-
Bruce Willis Makes an Expiration Date
2
-
Drew Pearce Hired for Mission: Impossible 5
0
Fresh Links
Featured
Star Trek Movies Ranked
HitFix offers their own take on the worst-to-best of the Enterprise crew's cinematic adventures.
Top 10 Star Trek Villains
Rolling Stone unveils the Enterprise's most irksome adversaries.
Celebrity Yearkbook Flashback
We'll bet you never realized how many stars were cheerleaders and high school athletes!
50 Most Classic Movie Moms
In celebration of Mother's Day, TimeOut offers up 50 iconic matriarchs from the big screen.
Weirdest Movie Siblings
From Twins to The Royal Tenenbaums, Moviefone explores cinema's oddest siblings.
Promos
Follow RT on Twitter!
Spice up your feed with hourly Tomatometer updates!
