TERRY CALLIER
Directed by Paul Manate, 1999
SYNOPSIS
Terry Callier is not just a musician; he is a man who plays the guitar purely for the pleasure of it. While others toil to build a career by selling their souls, he takes life as it comes—simply and calmly.
And yet, this unclassifiable guitarist from Chicago is now revered by London DJs, with numerous artists like Diana Reeves, Ben Harper, and Urban Species acknowledging his influence. Beyond genre boundaries, it’s his talent as a composer, his sense of melody, and the timelessness and simplicity of his music that stand out.
This film tells the story of this man: a guitarist who, after recording ten albums, left music behind to become a computer programmer and raise his daughter. Now, at 54, he returns to a music career imbued with wisdom and humility, recording once again in London studios.
Technical Crew
Directed by
Paul MANATE
Photography
Sylvia CALLE
Julien DONADA
Editing
Dominique PETROT
Sound
Laurent BENAÏM
Material
Technical Data
Documentary - France - 1999
52' - Beta SP – Color
Version
English with french subtitles
Production
Nicolas BREVIERE – Local Films
Paris Première
Grand Canal
Distribution
Local Films Distribution
International Sales
Local Films
TRAILER
Born in Papeete, Paul Manate spent his childhood in Arue, then in PK9, Mahina, with his three brothers and sisters. In the early 80s, the family moved to mainland France, but Paul returned regularly to his native land... With each visit, he replenishes his resources and gradually feeds his imagination, drawing inspiration and material for his future films from the landscapes, personalities and culture of Tahiti. It was in France that his desire to make films became a reality. He obtained a DEA in cinema at the Sorbonne, and worked for Canal + as a script consultant. In 1995, he made his first documentary, Des pirogues et des hommes, about the Va'a club in Faaa and the Heiva races. In 1998, he shot a short film, Ina, inspired by the character of his Kanak half-sister, and then in 2008, Mes quatre morts. Finally, in 2013, he shot Nevermore in Tahiti, about the return of a “half” legionnaire to the fenua... Today, with the feature film L'Oiseau de paradis, Paul continues his cinematic work on the richness and complexity of Polynesian identity.