THEY WILL HAVE TO KILL US FIRST: Malian Music In Exile

Director: Johanna Schwartz
Producer: Johanna Schwartz, Sarah Mosses, John Schwartz & Kat Amara Korba

2015 | 100 min
Mali, Burkina Faso, West Africa, England
Languages: French, Tamashek, Bambera, English
Subtitles: English

Imagine waking up and finding out music has been banned. This is what happened to the characters in They Will Have to Kill us First. In Mali, music is a way of life, a prime communication tool and when you hear the music you understand why Mali is renowned as the birthplace of the Blues, and therefore, Rock ‘n Roll. Faced with being stripped of their freedom, the musicians decide to fight back in any way they know how. This film follows their journeys – personal, political and downright heroic – to bring music back to their country.

FESTIVALS & AWARDS
Special Mention Documentary Feature, SIMA 2017
SXSW Film Festival
ACT Human Rights Film Festival