I Bring What I Love: Youssou Ndour

NEW DOCS

Noted by Time Magazine as one of the world’s one hundred most influential people, Youssou Ndour is beloved around the globe as a musician, vocalist, and social activist. Ndour is also a Senegalese Muslim, and Chai Vasarhelyi’s film is a document of the making of Egypt, Ndour’s 2004 Grammy Award-winning album devoted to his faith, and the tour supporting it. With a sound unlike his traditional Afro-Cuban pop, Egypt drew controversy to the popular performer, in particular from conservative Muslim critics who took issue with his decision to release the album during Ramadan. An engrossing performer known to most Western audiences as a collaborator with Peter Gabriel and other World Music artists, Ndour makes for a compelling documentary subject, as we follow him from the thrall of a stadium filled with fans to modest moments with family and friends. I Bring What I Love is a portrait of an artist interpreting, and inviting, dedication.  TM

Director

Chai Vasarhelyi

Producer

Chai Vasarhelyi

Editors

Jonathan Oppenheim, Fernando Villena

Cinematographers

Scott Duncan, Nick Doob, Jojo Pennebaker, Hugo Berkeley

Release Year

2008

Festival Year

2009

Country

United States

Run Time

102 minutes