Genghis Blues (1999)

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Yes, absolutely, there is fun to be had, as well as many, many things to go boom, all amid an atmospheric urban jungle.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

The best of the human spirit. Paul Pena is a blind blues singer who wrote the song "Jet Airliner" which would become a hit for The Steve Miller Band. He was widowed in 1991 and has fallen into some depression, but before the death of his wife, he had heard some Tuvan throatsinging on shortwave radio. After trying to find recordings of it, he stumbles on some and attempts to master it, as well as the singing. During the visit of a master throat-singer, Kongar-ool Ondar, he approaches him and performs some throatsinging. Ondar is impressed, and through a series of events, visits Tuva in 1995 and performs in a competition there. This film is the account of his visit. Pena is an inspiring character-soulful, humorous, real, a fantastic musician, and fragile. You don't want this movie to end. The people of Tuva are incredibly warm and the landscape is gorgeous. Pena and the small group which accompanies him has some medical problems and logistical problems in Tuva which makes the movie even more interesting. That said, if you love music, you should check out this movie. Paul Pena and Kongar are inspirational figures and this is just the sort of unconventional topic to be illuminated by a documentary. Filmmaker Roko Belic took four years to secure the financing and support to edit and have the film released. It truly is one for all lovers of humanity and music.

Genghis Blues is a mythic tale of a musician seeking the source of a musical sound that haunts him. At the depths of his despair he re-engages with life when he hears a short-wave radio program with a singing that captures his spirit. For the next 12 years he persists in his research trying to find the source of the singing he heard. Step by step, he finds the path and this is the story of that search.Blind since he was a young man, Pena had carved out a journeyman's career playing blues behind many leading acts in his day. But the filmmakers find Pena, a recent widower, in a state of depression and one goal in mind. Together, the producers fashion an expedition to find the source of that sound, bringing together an array of synchronous events and people that would one day make this film in a place few people would ever think of visiting. The story is troubling and dark, as is the world of Pena, but throughout this remarkable journey Pena finds the light in the eyes of others a world away. A foreigner with no sight, he wavers in his ambitious plan momentarily, but finds the courage to make the music that eluded him his whole life. This is the story of one's man's dream come true in the worst of situations, showing how the voice of the human spirit remains alive in a sound.

What can I say other than I loved it. As far as documentaries go, this one stands side by side among the greats as far as I'm concerned. Not only do you get a tour of a land forgotten, having the opportunity to get to know a country, it's inhabitants, and their customs, but you'll have the chance to really see and hear Tuvan throat singing, something most American's have never even heard of. All this, through the eyes of a blind man, Paul Pena. A famous blues man who, over a period of 7 or 8 years, mastered throat singing well enough to travel to Tuva and compete in the Throat Singing Competition.I recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about the world, interested in experiencing a very beautiful and underexposed style of music and singing, interested in a wonderful heart warming story, and amazing people.

I have known Paul Pena to be a great songwriter and musician for many years. Paul, his wife "Babe" (Debby) and I shared a flat in San Francisco. After Babes passing in 1991, Paul really got into the sound of Tuva and all it held. He went on to learn the tones of the Digereedoo,(sp). The last time I saw Paul on stage was at the Roseland in Portland when he was on the road with Rat Dog. He played the "dige" and performed the art of Tuvan throatsinging at the sametime. It was a great day in April for all. All the best, JAR