This meandering documentary looks at one of Africa's most beloved yet elusive musical giants: Boubacar Traore, known to his fans throughout Mali as "KarKar." During the late '50s and early '60s, his native country star power was equal to Elvis Presley's in the United States. But in the mid-1960s, Traore abruptly disappeared from sight and many Malians assumed he had died. He was discovered in the early 1980s doing menial labor in Paris, and eventually returned to Mali and his music career. Traore's story is a compelling mystery with genuine heartbreaking twists of fate, but filmmaker Jacques Sarasin fails to crack the puzzle of Traore's disappearance, and the artist remains very much an enigma. He happily performs many songs for the camera, often in unlikely settings (including a guitar-strumming stroll through the ancient city of Timbuktu), but avoids talking with any depth about himself or his missing years. Also, due to the lack of vintage film footage or recordings of Traore during his youthful peak years, there is nothing here--aside from a few faded black-and-white photographs--to capture a sense of his performing style beyond vague recollections of fans and friends. Traore is still performing and a very brief snippet of a concert is offered here, but it barely gives the impression of the charisma which he supposedly held. DVD extras include three performance films, and a pair of bonus interviews. Enthusiastic fans of Afro-pop may enjoy I'll Sing for You, but for most others there's not much to sing about here. Optional. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)
I'll Sing for You
(2003) 77 min. In French w/English subtitles. DVD: $29.95. First Run Features (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. Volume 20, Issue 3
I'll Sing for You
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