I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Blind, American bluesman Paul Peña was going through a very tough period in his life, particularly after having lost his wife, when he came across a CD of Tuvan throat singing, with which he absolutely fell in love. (Tuva is a region in southern Siberia, just north of Mongolia.) Peña not only taught himself throat singing and incorporated it to his blues, but also began to learn the Tuvan language by translating words from a Tuvan dictionary into Russian and then English, as he couldn't find a Tuvan-English dictionary. (Keep in mind the guy was blind.) He then made contact with the Tuvan music community and flew there to join them. He might as well have traveled across the galaxy.It's amazing how, despite the language and cultural barriers, Peña was able to establish a deep connection with his Tuvan hosts through a shared passion for music, particularly with the celebrated throat singer Kongar-ol Ondar, who took him under his wing during the visit. Seeing these two men jam and interact with each other, I had to wonder whether perhaps they'd been brothers in a previous lifetime. To think that they came from opposite sides of the world... Like Peña, the film's audience is treated to the generous spirit of Tuvan society. What hospitality! While the region wouldn't seem to offer much in terms of material luxury, their culture puts things into perspective and raises questions regarding our own values. As cliché as it might sound, they show there's nothing in life like shared joy, human warmth and communication. And that's pretty much what this film is all about!It's true that one may find more sophisticated photography and editing in other documentaries, but what this one lacks in technical virtuosity, it more than makes up for in heart. Beautiful and bittersweet, this is one film not to be missed.

The best of the human spirit. Paul Pena is a blind blues singer who wrote the song "Jet Airliner" which would become a hit for The Steve Miller Band. He was widowed in 1991 and has fallen into some depression, but before the death of his wife, he had heard some Tuvan throatsinging on shortwave radio. After trying to find recordings of it, he stumbles on some and attempts to master it, as well as the singing. During the visit of a master throat-singer, Kongar-ool Ondar, he approaches him and performs some throatsinging. Ondar is impressed, and through a series of events, visits Tuva in 1995 and performs in a competition there. This film is the account of his visit. Pena is an inspiring character-soulful, humorous, real, a fantastic musician, and fragile. You don't want this movie to end. The people of Tuva are incredibly warm and the landscape is gorgeous. Pena and the small group which accompanies him has some medical problems and logistical problems in Tuva which makes the movie even more interesting. That said, if you love music, you should check out this movie. Paul Pena and Kongar are inspirational figures and this is just the sort of unconventional topic to be illuminated by a documentary. Filmmaker Roko Belic took four years to secure the financing and support to edit and have the film released. It truly is one for all lovers of humanity and music.

Wow! GENGHIS BLUES is a powerful piece of work. This documentary should be required viewing to help us all understand the nature of cultural diversity and the beauty of international exchange. What a hero Paul Pena is. And what a role model.

I first saw this film at the Honolulu Academy of the Arts and was unaware I was even going to see a film. I thought it was live Tuvan Music and was asking how long it was going to last and wondering if I would be asking to leave long before the show was over. My previous experience with throat-singing was an answering machine's intro to leave a message and my co-workers sometimes cd's in the office. At first I thought the film was an intro to the "live" show.... dah... the story got more and more interesting and soon I was captured by the "trueness of the adventure". No one had to leave the earth's gravity or dive to the bottom of the sea to go on this adventure, they first had to find one another and then find a unknown country in the middle of Asia, where they didn't speak the language, and had to depend on strangers to lead them in the right direction. This film is so "real" it could not have been "written" it had to be "lived"!I am grateful that I had the opportunity to see this film and even more grateful that it is coming here to Maui where I can see it again, share it with others and stop "telling" folk they need to see this great film and have them give me the "look" when I try to explain the basic plot.This time I will bring my tissues to wipe the tears of good feelings!Mahalo.