At an early age, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi was well on her way to being a masterful and accomplished Director.  At just 24 years old, she won the Best Director Award at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival for her documentary debut film – A Normal Life.  It was after this that she decided to shift gears and in her own words, her next project was “to make an uplifting film about Africa and thought that music was one way to do it”.  Her subject choice was none other than the best selling and most influential African artist of all time, the legendary Youssou N’dour.

Through the portrait of this great Senegalese musician, often referred to as the “Bono” of Africa, Chai dazzles her public.  The film packs a commanding punch for those unfamiliar with the artist, as much as it does for Youssou’s millions of fans.  It is with great pleasure and pride that I introduce to you, Chai, the genius behind the film “Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love“. Through this exclusive interview granted to Jamati, she talks to us about her origins, her passion for film, her new award winning documentary and her future projects.

Jamati: Tell us about yourself- Who is Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi? (Your origin, school and professional background)

I grew up between New York City and Rio de Janeiro. I graduated from Princeton University in 2000 with a B.A. in Comparative Literature.  I made my documentary debut directing A Normal Life in 2003.  A project I began in my final years at Princeton, the film focuses on young Kosovars who came of age during the recent war. A Normal Life won the Best Documentary Award at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival.

Jamati: What inspired you to become a filmmaker?

Chai: I believe that film can communicate the most amount of information in the least amount of time. I wanted very much to bring to life stories like Youssou’s.

Jamati: How did you get into directing and producing movies?

Chai: I began directing when I was an undergraduate in college.

Jamati: Who are some of your mentors and influences?

Chai: Mike Nichols, Jonathan Demme, Michael Winterbottom, Ousmane Sembene, Chris Marker.

Jamati: Tell us what your latest film “Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love” is about?

Youssou N’dour: I Bring What I Love chronicles N’dour, a devout Sufi Muslim, as he releases a deeply personal and religious album called Egypt in the hope of promoting a tolerant face of Islam. He trespasses into the domain of revered traditional religious singers. Almost instantly, his fellow Senegalese reject the album, and denounce his actions. Merchants quickly return their copies and Ndour is made the center of controversy. Director Chai Vasarhelyi follows N’dour for over two years – filming in Africa, Europe, and America – to tell the story of how he faces these challenges and eventually wins over audiences both at home and abroad.

Jamati: What was it that made you decide to do the movie? How was it working with the legendary Youssou N’dour?

 After A Normal Life, a documentary I made with a friend about Kosovar Albanians and what happens after war, I wanted to shift gears. I spent several months in London working for Mike Nichols on Closer and while I was in the UK, a friend introduced me to Youssou’s music. I didn’t understand a word of what he was singing about but it didn’t matter. It was magic. It gave me the idea for this big, beautiful film about Africa.

Jamati: What is the message you wanted to pass on through this film?

Besides just introducing them to my friend Youssou N’dour, I hope people discover someone new, come away with a stronger appreciation of Islam and the role that music plays in the West African culture.  At the same time I would just like an audience to sit back and enjoy what I would consider a contemporary African musical.

This is a film about conscience, faith, and simply doing the right thing. Regardless of your religious upbringing or musical tastes, here is an artist who had to make a decision, face the consequences and affect change. In the process, he is finally rewarded on the world stage. I hope that a young woman in the states will relate to this just as intensely as a religious student in ‘Egypt’ would.

Jamati: The film “Youssou N’dour: I Bring What I Love” is drawn from N’dour’s deeply personal religious album “Egypt” . How challenging was it to show through the movie a more tolerant face of Islam? How did your overcome that?

Chai: The ‘Egypt’ album moved me the first time I listened to it. It’s dramatically different from the sexy, rhythmic mbalax sound that made Youssour famous. And, coming two years after 9/11, it was brave. I don’t think anyone knew exactly how audiences would react to it. I was more concerned with how the West would receive a Muslim album. Given the politics of religion, I thought Youssou’s portrait of a tolerant Islam was an important alternate vision. I wasn’t concentrating on how it would be understood in Senegal. As you know, Youssou is Senegal’s prodigal son and Senegal is a truly tolerant society. So yes, I was drawn to the controversial elements of this album but I had no idea that much of the strife created by the release would be concentrated in his home country. What happened in Senegal was much more difficult and personal than I anticipated. Ultimately Egypt presented a personal artistic turning point in Youssou’s life–one that I was glad to capture.

Jamati: The film premiered at the Telluride Film Festival. What were the locations you filmed the documentary? Have you been fortunate enough to visit anywhere in Africa? If so, how was that experience?

Chai: I shot this film over the course of three years and had the privilege of working with four wonderful cinematographers. We filmed across Europe, West Africa, America, Egypt, Morocco, Live 8 (3 countries in one day) and Asia. I don’t know how Youssou does it. Over the course of the shoot I probably spent a good year in Senegal. I essentially became a member of the band. To preserve the intimacy of the project, I wanted to keep the crew small and we often traveled as a team of two: a cinematographer and myself.

Jamati: You won the respect of Grammy Award winner Youssou Ndour, one of the greatest African artist of all time, who has collaborated with musical superstars like Bono, Peter Gabriel and Neneh Cherry. How do your explain his enthusiasm towards your work?

Chai: I can’t speak for Youssou, but I think it was a rather intense experience for him.  I Bring What I Love reveals a side of his life that will be new, even to the Senegalese. The verité footage of Youssou dressing in the Maestro Suite in Carnegie Hall is much more intimate than the way he is normally portrayed for his countrymen. All along, Youssou was very respectful of the editing process, and wasn’t interested in getting involved with those decisions. He respected my process and I appreciated that.

Jamati: “Youssou Nd’our: I Bring What I Love” won several awards. One of them was the Special Jury Prize award in Abu Dhabi. Congratulations. What’s the feeling like when you see your work garner accolades?

Chai: It is very rewarding to witness audiences responding to the film.

Jamati: What does Chai do to relax? what kind of music you like?

Chai: I think you already know the answer…Youssou. I also enjoy the Clash, Ali Farka Toure, Mary J. Blige, and Habib Kuote.

Jamati: What is one event that happened in the history of Africa that you would say marked your mind?

Chai: The end of apartheid in South Africa

Jamati: If you were to meet 3 famous African people  or not. Who would they be?

Chai: Mandela, Desmond Tutu, & Franz Fanon

Jamati: Let our readers know when and where they can see sneak previews. Also, what is the official date that “I Bring What I Love” will be in theaters nationwide in the US?

Chai: New York Engagements start Friday June 12th at the Paris Theater, IFC Center, and BAM Rose Cinemas. In California the film opens in LA on Friday July 3rd at Laemmle Sunset Theater, as well as in Santa Barbara on 7/17 at Plaza de Oro Theater, in Monterey on 7/17 at Osio Theater, and in San Luis Obispo on 8/14 at the Palm Theater. Elsewhere, the film opens in Atlanta, GA on 7/31 at the Regal Tara Theater, in Austin, TX on 8/14 at the Regal Arbor Theater and in Milwaukee, WI on 9/25 at the Milwaukee Film Festival. All this information can be found on our website and facebook page.

Jamati: Will it also be viewed in Europe and Africa? If so, when will that be?

Chai: The film opened in Holland in January and will continue to open throughout Europe this summer including Germany, Belgium, France, Australia, and Japan. In terms of Africa, the first screening ever of the film was over a year ago for friends and family in Dakar. It then premiered at FESPACO in Burkina Faso a few months ago and will be returning to Dakar as part of FESMAN in December. It’s really important to both myself and Youssou that we do everything in our power to bring the film to audiences throughout Africa – so definitely look out for news about those plans.

Jamati: What project are you currently working on? Tell us about some of your other film credits and accolades.

Chai: [My] other credits include work with Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Scott Duncan documenting the 2007 Paris-Dakar Rally, and two shorts for the ESPN Espys’ prestigious Arthur Ashe Courage award. The first piece chronicled girls’ soccer in post-Taliban Afghanistan, and their second followed a New Orleans high school basketball team that emerged from the devastation of hurricane Katrina to win the 2005 All-State Championship.  [I] has received grants from charitable foundations including the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers fund, and the William and Mary Greve Foundation. Youssou Ndour: I Bring What I Love marks [my] first feature length documentary film.

I’m currently working on a film about Touba and the grand Magaal, it will be finished in about a year.

Jamati: Let our readers know how they can support your latest film “Youssou N’Dour: I Bring What I Love”.

Chai: Go out to see the film the opening weekend it is in theaters and bring your friends, family, and colleagues!

Jamati: What is your message to Youssou N’dour’s millions of fans?

Chai: Yes, people will enjoy the film’s beautiful footage and fun beats, and will be inspired by Youssou’s compelling story, but people also should go see the film because there is much more at stake.It’s all too rare that Africa or an African subject gets this kind of filmmaking and this kind of attention.  For the sake of Africa, please help us spread the film and Youssou’s message of a ‘hopeful’ Africa. Amid the images in the U.S. media of African AIDS, war and poverty, our film is a chance for Americans to see a positive representation of Africa in the media.  In addition, it is all too rare that stories go below the surface and give nuanced views of a more tolerant Islam.

Jamati: Thank you so much Chai for your time. It has been a pleasure doing this exclusive interview with you. We wish you best of luck for your future projects and a huge opening weekend for “I bring what I love”.

Chai: It’s been a pleasure too. Thank you Jamati.