Marc Huraux

This documentary follows the legendary African singer and guitarist Ali Farka Touré (who died in 2006) as he returns to his home and musical roots in Niafunké, the village on the banks of the River Niger in Mali. Touré now sees himself as a farmer and family man, and is trying to improve agricultural and social conditions in the province of Timbuktu. The region has no roads and no electricity and Touré himself drove director Marc Huraux across the vast expanse of unforgiving desert land that surrounds Niafunké to make this film. The cameras accompany Touré as he goes about his daily farm business, and fulfilling his role and responsibilities as an important local figure.

A music documentary about jazz saxophonist Charlie Parker, with Chan Parker, Bill Miles, Dizzy Gillespie, Walter Bishop Jr, Sheila Jordan, George Wein, Bruce Ricker, Earl Coleman, Doris Parker, Roy Haynes, Tommy Potter, Lester Bowie, Jimmy Slyde, Santi Debriano, Henry Threadfill Sextet, Olu Dara, Charles Austin Trio, Paul McIsaac, Jacqui Casto, Steve Ben, Israel, Leroy Williams, Billie Holiday, Ben Webster, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins.

Filmmaker Marc Huraux journeys to the small Malian village of Niafunké for a visit with double Grammy winner Ali Farka Toure in this compelling documentary. Huraux's cameras track the charismatic singer, guitarist and resident hero as he sets about his business and makes time for his music in his beloved birthplace on the Niger River. Elected mayor of the Niafunké region in 2004, Ali died of cancer in March 2006.

Out of the underground archives and the emblematic figures of these avant-garde movements, featuring Steve Ben Israel of the Living Theater, the puppet creator Peter Schumann, the photographer Alain Dister, the American black dramatist Amiri Baraka and a hypnotic ride, punctuated by the electrified performances of Jimi Hendrix.