Overview: Beyond Graceland: Ladysmith Black Mambazo is South Africa’s Official Submission for the Best International Feature Academy Award. It tells the story of South African musician, the late Joseph Shabalala and his band Ladysmith Black Mambazo who became worldwide sensations after powering Paul Simon’s landmark and massively successful Graceland album.

DVD Verdict: Bathed in Ladysmith’s powerful music, the documentary covers the full breadth of the band’s career, from early years in rural South Africa to the height of global success and Shabalala’s passing in 2020. This film takes viewers on their spiritual and emotional journey.

Along with footage and insights into the Graceland recording sessions, the film introduces us to many of the luminaries who worked with Shabalala, including Dolly Parton and Whoopi Goldberg. We also hear from Paul Simon, Oprah Winfrey and many others.

The film also documents the complex history of Isicathamiya music - the musical idiom whose boundaries he helped to expand - in terms of the political and musical forces that helped to form it. This social context opens a window into his relationship with Nelson Mandela who loved the music.

Locating this music at the heart of the South African experience as well as in its physical heartlands, Beyond Graceland is an engaging tribute to one of the world’s most distinctive musical forms and the beautifully resonant voice that made it famous.

Filmed over five years, Beyond Graceland gives us extraordinary access to Shabalala’s creative process and, simply put, Ladysmith Black Mambazo - who helped power Paul Simon’s Graceland album, recorded with Dolly Parton, and played onstage with Oprah, oh, and has also won 5 Grammys - is a living legend, in and unto herself.

This extraordinary documentary elegantly documents an emotional depth, seamlessly blending tradition and modern collaborations, showcasing powerful performances that embody hope beyond political struggles, making it more than just a music documentary but an uplifting cultural story for all to enjoy.

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Beyond Graceland: Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Official Trailer)