Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available for
Color:
Image not available

To view this video download Flash Player

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
Sell Us Your Item
For up to a $6.99 Gift Card
Trade in
More Buying Choices
Have one to sell? Sell yours here

Under African Skies (Graceland 25th Anniversary Film) (BluRay) [Blu-ray] (2012)

Paul Simon , Joe Berlinger  |  NR |  Blu-ray
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

List Price: $29.98
Price: $19.99 & FREE Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $9.99 (33%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.
Want it tomorrow, May 21? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
Up to 52% off Classic TV Favorites
Save now on popular classic TV favorites such as Charlies Angels, Sanford and Son, Soap and many more. Offer ends May 31, 2013.

Frequently Bought Together

Under African Skies (Graceland 25th Anniversary Film) (BluRay) [Blu-ray] + Graceland
Price for both: $28.98

Buy the selected items together
  • Graceland $8.99

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Product Details

  • Actors: Paul Simon
  • Directors: Joe Berlinger
  • Format: Blu-ray, NTSC, Widescreen
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region A/1 (Read more about DVD/Blu-ray formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: Sony Legacy
  • DVD Release Date: June 5, 2012
  • Run Time: 101 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B007P06DL8
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35,356 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Special Features

None.

Editorial Reviews

In 1986, Graceland sold 14 million copies worldwide and garnered both the Album and Song of the Year Grammy in 1987. Simon and the members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo performed on Saturday Night Live and appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone. It generated three hit singles and it kept Paul Simon and the Graceland tour on the road for five years. Its music was heard across the globe. Today, its music and its reputation still reach generations of music enthusiasts yet so many are unaware of how pivotal that one album was during the 1980s, how it helped birth the idea of World Music and revived the career of one of America s most important songwriters. How it influenced the political progress of South Africa a country divided by institutionalized racism, causing and then transcending years of controversy. How in fact the album came to be in the first place.

Under African Skies (Directed by Joe Berlinger, award-winning director) captures Paul Simon's return to South Africa in 2011 to explore the incredible journey of his historic Graceland album, including the political backlash he received for allegedly breaking the UN cultural boycott of South Africa designed to end the Apartheid regime. Features film bonus footage.

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
(16)
4.4 out of 5 stars
No this is not a concert, although there are clips. Charles Walton  |  4 reviewers made a similar statement
The politics in South Africa in 1986 were very different than today. Robert W. Stolpe  |  1 reviewer made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray|Amazon Verified Purchase
Paul Simon needs no introduction and his greatest work of all Graceland is explored in many dimensions. From anti racism activists to Sir Paul Mc Cartney and Hugh Masekela. You get let into the controversy that occurred at the time and see the critics question Paul about supposedly exploiting African musician working on this masterpiece. You also see short clips of recent versions sung by the original artists that help create Graceland. One for the fans and even the casual observer. Highly recommended.
Was this review helpful to you?
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Blu-ray
This documentary celebrates the 25th anniversary of Paul Simon's great Graceland' album. At the same time it questions
Simon's political choices in going to South Africa to record during the U.N. approved cultural boycott, seeking to keep South
Africa isolated and thus put more pressure on the white regime to step down.

Simon's reply is that artists shouldn't be subject to arbitrary political decisions - they must follow their heart and muse first, and
he did more to help raise awareness of South Africa by going than by staying away.

The film doesn't take clear sides on these questions and that's fine, a documentary doesn't have to take sides on such a morally
complex issue to be successful.

But there is something a bit slippery in Simon's somewhat pat answers that seem to be given a pass. And a meeting between Simon
and Dali Tambo, the South African head of 'Artists Against Apartheid' feels awkward and staged, each man explaining to the other their
point of view on what happened, ending with what felt like a very forced forgiveness hug.

Is the film letting Simon off too easily? Or is his very awkwardness Berlinger's point? (even his embraces of the musicians who played with
him on the album sometimes feel like they might not have happened if there wasn't a camera rolling) .

One telling detail, the fact that Simon took first credit on all the music, even though - as we hear some of the original pre-Simon
instrumentals from the album - we realize that many of the songs are almost identical, just somewhat re-arranged by Simon. Taking first
writing credit seems like an act of hubris that the film never mentions or questions.
Was this review helpful to you?
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Peter Z
Format:Blu-ray
IMHO - it's a great film. it deserves a 5 star rating. i also saw it on PBS this eve and the film had at least 3 full concert song performances at the end. it's a great story and i'm glad it was told.

to the person who gave it a 1 star rating... you've certainly struck a raw nerve in many of us who loved the film :) LOL

your singular 1 star rating had more to do with your disappointing 'best buy' purchase experience rather then the film itself. you got duped and you took it out on the film.

so all of us here are scratching our heads on why would you give this film a 1 star rating. do you really want no one to see it??? :)

so if you LOVE Paul Simon and his music...wouldn't you want to share it? someone searching this DVD/Blu Ray is going see your 1 Star rating and perhaps not buy the music.

hopefully the buyer will see all of our positive comments and decide to get the DVD/Blu Ray after all :)

check out the film again...if you still don't like it...i'll buy it from you :)
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Variety and Color
The lovely melodies and vibrant rhythms of the music combine so well with Paul Simon's ever meaningful lyrics. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Nancy Cowles
5.0 out of 5 stars amazing story
I have seen this documentary on PBS and I was so impressed that I wanted to share the experience with my relatives and I sent it to them as a gift for Christmas. Read more
Published 2 months ago by chris
5.0 out of 5 stars Paul Simon
It is Paul Simon. What else can you day? I feel that this video shows what can be achieved when colour is no barrier.
Published 2 months ago by Hope S. Edwards
5.0 out of 5 stars Under African Skies
This is a wonderful documentary on the making of Paul Simon's best album. It shows the struggles of the South African people during Apartheid and lets us get to know some very... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Dee Silverstein
5.0 out of 5 stars 25th Anniversary Celebration
Wonderful DVD presentation to celebrate the 25th anniversary of one the most amazing landmark albums in music history. Our whole family enjoyed it greatly.
Published 2 months ago by OzDaz
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent documentary on the making of Paul Simon's Going to Graceland
Great documentary on the making of Paul Simon's Graceland album with South African musical groups and the problems with the boycott of South Africa by the African National... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Russell Swiss
5.0 out of 5 stars An important documentary
"Graceland" has long been one of my favorite CD's, but after watching this documentary of the making of the music, I have an even greater appreciation of what Paul Simon... Read more
Published 3 months ago by bstdznr
5.0 out of 5 stars Long live Paul Simon
great reminder of a wonderful disc of music and what it took to put it together. I give Paul Simon a lot of credit for standing up to the attacks he had to deal with for putting... Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. Froelicher
5.0 out of 5 stars Transcendental!
I just saw this documentary on PBS. Wow. I had the Graceland Record when it was first released. What a joy to see the story behind this masterpiece 25 years on! Read more
Published 4 months ago by Robert W. Stolpe
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
Got this while at the mall, and must say it is all I expected and more. This is in my top 3 albums all time, and to see what Paul went through to make this happen, and bring these... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Charles Walton
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews


Forums

There are no discussions about this product yet.
Be the first to discuss this product with the community.
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 



Look for Similar Items by Category