X
  • 2016
  • Not Rated
  • BBC Worldwide Americas
  • 1 h 40 m
  • 2016
  • Not Rated
  • BBC Worldwide Americas
  • 1 h 40 m

Summary In 2012 Islamic extremists took over Northern Mali imposing harsh sharia law and banning all music. In Mali, music is the fabric of society, its lifeblood and the most revered citizens are musicians. This story follows Mali’s musical superstars as they fight to get their country, livelihoods and freedom back.

Directed By: Johanna Schwartz

Written By: Andy Morgan

  • 2016
  • Not Rated
  • BBC Worldwide Americas
  • 1 h 40 m
  • 2016
  • Not Rated
  • BBC Worldwide Americas
  • 1 h 40 m

They Will Have to Kill Us First

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 5 Critic Reviews
67
User Score Available after 4 ratings
tbd
My Score
Hover and click to give a rating Saved

Where to Watch

Summary In 2012 Islamic extremists took over Northern Mali imposing harsh sharia law and banning all music. In Mali, music is the fabric of society, its lifeblood and the most revered citizens are musicians. This story follows Mali’s musical superstars as they fight to get their country, livelihoods and freedom back.

Directed By: Johanna Schwartz

Written By: Andy Morgan

Where to Watch

Top Cast

View All
View All Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 5 Critic Reviews
67
60% Positive
3 Reviews
40% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews

Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 5 Critic Reviews
67
60% Positive
3 Reviews
40% Mixed
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
80
Mar 3, 2016
Johanna Schwartz’s miraculously hopeful documentary, They Will Have to Kill Us First: Malian Music in Exile, delivers a vibrant testimony of resilience under oppression.
By Jeannette Catsoulis FULL REVIEW
70
Mar 2, 2016
As a look at geopolitics, the film is limited, but as a musical doc it's strong — and it's best as the movie to recommend old white Americans go see as a reminder that people everywhere remain people.
By Alan Scherstuhl FULL REVIEW
67
Mar 3, 2016
Early in First, Khaira compares music to oxygen. The film might’ve felt a little more enlightening if all the songs had room to breathe in turn.
By Benjamin Mercer FULL REVIEW
60
Mar 31, 2016
They Will Have to Kill Us First doesn't offer much of a primer on Mali's political or cultural histories — which is the movie's biggest weakness. But Schwartz did capture some remarkable footage of musicians who've spent the last few years taking tentative steps to reclaim what makes their nation special.
By Noel Murray FULL REVIEW
60
Mar 3, 2016
Although many of the stories told here are deeply harrowing and the film sometimes seems to be trying to bite off too much, at least there’s a happy ending of sorts.
By Leslie Felperin FULL REVIEW

User Reviews

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Details

 View All
Production Company Mojo Musique, Spring Films, Together Films
Release Date Mar 4, 2016
Duration 1 h 40 m
Rating Not Rated
Genres
Website https://www.facebook.com/music4mali
View All Details

Awards

Millennium Docs Against Gravity
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
SXSW Film Festival
• 1 Nomination

Related Movies

Hoop Dreams

98
Universal Acclaim

Man with a Movie Camera

96
Universal Acclaim

Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)

96
Universal Acclaim

I Am Not Your Negro

95
Universal Acclaim

Woodstock

95
Universal Acclaim

Collective

95
Universal Acclaim

Amazing Grace

94
Universal Acclaim

Stop Making Sense

94
Universal Acclaim

We Were Here

94
Universal Acclaim

Faces Places

94
Universal Acclaim

David Byrne’s American Utopia

93
Universal Acclaim

Shoah: Four Sisters

93
Universal Acclaim

Our Body

93
Universal Acclaim

Sherpa

93
Universal Acclaim

The Decline of Western Civilization

93
Universal Acclaim

Brother's Keeper

93
Universal Acclaim

Crumb

93
Universal Acclaim

One More Time with Feeling

92
Universal Acclaim

Sugarcane

92
Universal Acclaim

The Act of Killing

92
Universal Acclaim

De Humani Corporis Fabrica

92
Universal Acclaim

Menus Plaisirs - Les Troisgros

92
Universal Acclaim

Related News

2024 Movie Release Calendar

2024 Movie Release Calendar

Jason Dietz

Find release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated weekly.

  • movie
Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Every Zack Snyder Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

With the arrival of Zack Snyder's latest Rebel Moon chapter on Netflix, we rank every one of the director's films—from bad to, well, less bad—by Metascore.

  • movie
Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Every Guy Ritchie Movie, Ranked

Nick Hyman

We rank every one of the British director's movies by Metascore, from his debut Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels to his brand new film, The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare.

  • movie
April Movie Preview (2024)

April Movie Preview (2024)

Keith Kimbell

The month ahead will bring new films from Alex Garland, Luca Guadagnino, Dev Patel, and more. To help you plan your moviegoing options, our editors have selected the most notable films releasing in April 2024, listed in alphabetical order.

  • movie
DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

DVD/Blu-ray Releases: New & Upcoming

Jason Dietz

Find a list of new movie and TV releases on DVD and Blu-ray (updated weekly) as well as a calendar of upcoming releases on home video.

  • movie