Historian William Dalrymple journeys to Morocco, Turkey, Syria and Pakistan to explore whirling dervishes, Qawwali singing and other forms of music sacred in Sufism, the branch of Islam that emphasizes music as a mystical route to the holy. Capturing performances of renowned Muslim musicians such as Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and Sain Zahoor, the film reveals that at the heart of Sufism lies a dedication to tolerance and pluralism.
There is blues in the United States, Flamenco in Spain, tango in Argentina, chanson in France - and Portugal, too, has its own musical style, fado, and its biggest artist is Mariza. Internationally acclaimed Portuguese-Mozambican singer Mariza stars in this compelling documentary film that traces the history of fado back to its origins in the streets of Lisbon during the early 19th century.
All since the Soviet invasion in 1979 musicians have lived under restrictions in Afghanistan, before Mujahedin and Taliban tightened the reins even more. This documentary explores the position of music through more than twenty years of the country’s history. We meet musicians in Afghanistan and in exile, in addition to both believers who reject music and those having it as a central part of their religion.
