Ethiopiques: Muzyka duszy

A comprehensive documentary film about the development of the Ethiopian popular music scene of the 1960s and 70s. Ethiopiques is the history of Ethiopian music told from the perspective of the main character and narrator of the film, Francis Falceto. An avid follower of world music, he was given a copy of unlabeled cassette at a party in his hometown of Poitiers. It was Ethiopian jazz. The resultant excitement amongst listeners and journalists who had never heard anything quite like it is the beginning of a long journey that is a landmark in the history of world music. It is also the story of the phenomenon of this unique music style which had a considerable influence on late 20th century free jazz and pop music. This lost generation of musicians, many of whom live in poverty and exile today, is shown against the backdrop of political and social upheaval in the transitional time between the end of the Emperor Haile Selassie's reign and rise of the communist Derg junta that resulted in a non-existent cultural life. This is an account of the courage and audacity of gifted musicians who were the creators of stunning sounds and music against all odds. (HBO Europe)