Genghis Blues

  • Documentary
  • Music
7/19/1999
87
NR

Storyline

Blind blues musician Paul Pena is perhaps best known for his song "Jet Airliner". In 1993, Pena heard Tuvan throat singing over his shortwave radio and subsequently taught himself how to reproduce these extraordinary sounds. This documentary follows him to Tuva, where he takes part in a throat singing competition. Languages featured in the film include English, Russian and Tuvan.

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Reviews

  • Geronimo1967

    Partially sighted blues musician Paul Peña has become fascinated with the ancient musical traditions of the central Asian province of Tuva. Sandwiched between Mongolia and Russia, this previously independent nation joined the USSR and is now a largely autonomous part of the Federation run from its only city Kyzyl. Peña and his friends have been invited to their unique throat-singing competition and so make their way, via Moscow, from San Francisco to learn more. What they find upon arrival is an ancient society that welcomes them and their curiosity with open arms and compared with the constrictions of his city life at home, Peña finds things here much more relaxed. He embraces their culture and is soon writing songs in their native languag...

    October 17, 2025

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