One Divided Country. One United Choir. One
Courageous Journey.
They said it couldn’t – and shouldn’t – be
done. South Africa was in flames from
political violence, and the apartheid government wasn’t willing to transition
to a nonracial democracy. But as thousands lined the streets around Durban City
Hall in 1993 to attend the original When
Voices Meet concert with its 500-voice multicultural choir and band, the
way forward became clear. And when those courageous musicians were joined by
Ladysmith Black Mambazo to take their message across the country aboard The
Peace Train, there was no turning back. What happened then, and what’s
happening in the country now, are depicted in the compelling and joyful new
documentary film, When Voices Meet,
starring Tony-award winning actor John Kani, Abigail Kubeka, Sharon Katz,
Nonhlanhla Wanda and the cast of The Peace Train.
When
Voices Meet is set at the time when Nelson Mandela
was finally released from prison. South African musician and music therapist
Sharon Katz joined with singer and educator Nonhlanhla Wanda to form a
500-voice multiracial choir to break through Apartheid’s barriers. Threatened
with bombs and thwarted at every turn, they prevailed and railroaded across the
country aboard The Peace Train.
Singing their way into the hearts, minds
and soul of the divided country in the midst of a civil war, they promoted a
peaceful transition to democracy and went on to become Mandela’s face of the
new nation by performing at special events in South Africa, Washington, DC and
all across America.
When
Voices Meet documents the trials, tribulations and
triumphs of those musician activists and young choir members. They performed
together for seven years and then reunited 20 years later to tell their stories
and reflect upon The Peace Train’s impact. It’s a joyful, inspiring story of
hope and determination despite tremendous obstacles, including lessons that apply
to American issues today.
When
Voices Meet was awarded Best Documentary Film, Best
Original Soundtrack, Best Director, President’s Award and Audience Award in the
USA and received the MADA Award in Toronto. Film screenings across North
America in 2015-16 include St. Louis Int’l Film Festival; Philadelphia Film
Festival; Chicago Int’l Social Change Film Festival; Ft. Lauderdale Int’l Film
Festival; Toronto’s Global Community Film Festival & South African Film
Festival; Route 66 Film Festival; Jersey City Int’l TV & Film Festival;
Omaha Film Festival; Antigonish Film Festival, Nova Scotia; Teaneck Int’l Film
Festival, New Jersey; Waimea Ocean Film Festival, Hawaii; Reel Work Film
Festival in Monterey, CA; CineCulture in Fresno, CA; Berkeley Film Foundation,
CA; CIIS in San Francisco, CA.
When
Voices Meet premiered in South Africa at the Durban
International Film Festival in 2015 and was screened at the Johannesburg
Holocaust Center in 2017.
Alliance Française de Durban will host a
free screening of the documentary on April 28 at 18h00 followed by Q&A with
Executive Producer of the documentary, Marilyn Cohen, as well as Nonhlanhla
Wanda & Sharon Katz who are part of the cast.
The Award-Winning Documentary Feature Film received
Best Documentary, Best Original Soundtrack & Best Director and Audience
Award as well as the President’s Award.
Alliance Française de Durban is situated at
22 Sutton Crescent (off Windermere Road) in Morningside.
For more information on When Voices Meet, visit http://whenvoicesmeet.com
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