They Will Have to Kill Us First
In 2012, jihadists took control of northern Mali. They imposed one of the strictest interpretations of sharia law in history. On August 12th they banned music - radio stations destroyed, instruments burned and musicians facing torture, even death. Overnight, Mali’s most revered members of society – the musicians – were forced into hiding or exile. This film follows Mali’s musicians as they fight to keep music alive in their country. We witness fierce battles between the army and the jihadists, capture life over borders at refugee camps where money and hope are scarce, follow perilous journeys home to war ravaged cities, and for one band, Songhoy Blues, their path to international stardom.
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Cast
21 people
Johanna Schwartz Director · Andy Morgan Writer Karelle Walker Cinematographer
Worldwide gross $15K · Budget $522K · United States release August 4, 2015
Box office
Budget
$522,360
Worldwide gross
$15,453
Production
Together Films
Production
Mojo Musique
Production
Spring Films
Production
Splice Post
Production
Mali · United Kingdom
Produced in
Languages
Original language
French
Spoken on screen
Bambara · English · French
Release dates
United States · August 4, 2015
Premiere · Sound + Vision Film Society Lincoln Center
United Kingdom · October 13, 2015
Theatrical · London Film Festival
Czechia
March 10, 2016 · Premiere · One World Film Festival
Finland
January 24, 2016 · TV premiere
Ireland
October 23, 2015
Poland
May 17, 2016 · Docs Against Gravity Film Festival
Sweden
January 29, 2016 · Göteborg Film Festival
United Kingdom
October 23, 2015 · Theatrical
Some details come from TheTVDB.