To celebrate the 25th anniversary of his landmark recording Graceland, Paul Simon returned to South Africa with award winning filmmaker Joe Berlinger (Metallica: Some Kind of Monster) to document his findings through the lens of time. The resulting documentary Under African Skies which recently screened at Sundance to a standing o, looks at the unprecedented musical collaborations as well as the political implications of the recording.
The album which won Simon the Grammy for Album of the Year in 1987 and sold 14 million copies worldwide is still regarded as one of his crowning musical achievements, though it’s not without its fair share of criticism for his choosing to embark upon the project under apartheid. Any 25 year reunion comes with a mixed bag of emotions and add to that you’re Paul Simon, you’re revisiting the monumental Graceland and the camera is taking it all in.
Look for the film and the commemorative release of the album which will include the director’s cut coming soon and don’t be surprised if “You Can Call Me Al” gets stuck in your head all over again.