Paul Simon breathed new life into his music career with his album “Graceland,” which both won a Grammy and inspired public protest. Now, according to the Los Angeles Times, a new documentary showing at the Sundance Film Festival chronicles the making of the 1986 album.
“Under African Skies” tells the story of Simon’s solo album by following the now 70-year-old musician to South Africa for the 25th anniversary of “Graceland.” The 10-day shoot includes Simon’s reunion with former “Graceland” collaborators like Ladysmith Black Mambazo, whom critics say he mitigated by the value he placed on his own career during the album’s recording.
Simon also faces critics who say he violated a United Nations cultural boycott while recording “Graceland.” During the documentary, Simon meets with Dali Tambo of Artists Against Apartheid, who said that by playing and recording in the racially segregated South Africa, Simon hurt the fight against apartheid.
“I made it clear I didn’t want a puff piece, a Paul Simon puff piece, and he didn’t want a Paul Simon puff piece,” said documentary director Joe Berlinger. “We established that we’re going to do an honest exploration of these issues and also go deeply into how this music was made, which to me is actually the more interesting part of the film.”
