USA – 2015 A FILM BY SHARMEEN OBAID-CHINOY, ANDY SCHOCKEN WITH SACHAL JAZZ ENSEMBLE, WYNTON MARSALIS, THE JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER ORCHESTRA With its ancient palaces and stately gardens, the Lahore of Pakistan's 1947 independence was a haven and a muse for musicians, artists, and poets. The city came alive to the beat of a tabla drum; with a musical culture passed down over centuries and a thriving film industry, opportunities were great for the legion of musicians that called Lahore home. Today, this vision of Lahore exists only in myth. Islamization, ethnic divisions, war and corruption have torn apart the cultural fabric of Pakistan, and the sounds of the tabla no longer drift through the old city's bazaar. In 2004, Izzat Majeed founded Sachal Studios to create a space for traditional music in a nation that had rejected its musical roots. After convincing a number of master musicians to pick up their instruments again, they quietly released some classical and folk albums. But it is an experimental album fusing jazz and South Asian instruments that brings Sachal Studios worldwide acclaim. Their rendition of Dave Brubeck's Take Five becomes a sensation, and Wynton Marsalis invites them to New York to perform with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. After a groundbreaking week of rehearsals fusing the orchestras from Lahore and New York, the musicians take to the stage for a remarkable concert. Despite their rising international acclaim, Sachal Studios remains virtually unknown in Pakistan. The ensemble is faced with a daunting task; to reclaim and reinvigorate an art that has lost its space in Pakistan’s narrowing cultural sphere. Coming to Canadian cinemas spring 2016! Press kit and high rez images: http://www.filmswelike.com/song-of-lahore
“Song of Lahore”, a documentary by Academy Award winning filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy and Andy Schocken on the acclaimed Sachal Studios and their journey to New York, is set to premiere March 4th at The Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, Toronto, to be followed by a Canadian-wide theatrical release.
Since the time of Pakistan’s independence, the city of Lahore was world renowned for its music. Then with the Islamization of Pakistan in the 1970s, many of Lahore’s most accomplished and celebrated musicians struggled to continue their life’s work. “Song of Lahore” turns the spotlight on a group of brave musicians that kept on playing.
Sachal Studios has attracted an audience from around the world for their experimental sound, fusing traditional music with contemporary Western flare. When their rendition of Dave Brubeck's piece ‘Take Five’ gets the attention of Wynton Marsalis, they are invited to take the stage at New York’s Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Directors Andy Schocken and Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy offer a moving and uplifting look at cultural preservation and a group of passionate and skilled musicians who risk their own safety to inspire listeners from all over the globe.
Running time: 83 minutes
Language: English, Punjabi, Urdu
Country: USA / Pakistan
Download Press kit and High Rez Images
FILMS WE LIKE
Founded by award-winning documentary filmmaker Ron Mann (Grass, Comic Book Confidential, Altman) Films We Like is a boutique distributor of documentary, independent, and international films in Canada. Recent releases include Mavis!, James White, and Heart of a Dog.
Media contact: Mallory Andrews
Screening links available upon request