Intangible Asset Number 82
This documentary chronicles the search for an enigmatic South Korean Shaman, and the inspiration found on the journey that renews an Australian jazz musician?s faith in the power of music.
In South Korea, those people that the government considers cultural treasures or "intangible assets" are given numbers. Intangible Asset No. 82 tells the story of Simon Barker, a respected Australian jazz drummer and his search for the South Korean shaman and grandmaster musician, Kim Seok-Chul, whose music has touched him profoundly. The journey becomes an odyssey, as he is introduced by his guide Kim Dong-Won, to other great traditional artists, and must overcome cultural obstacles and the march of time to eventually meet the master only days before his death.
Barker's respect for the traditional music and his willingness to be taught, opens doors and hearts along the way and the film is a Rosetta Stone of sorts, as through the eyes and ears of Barker, we arrive at our own understanding of a philosophy and music that can seem alien to Western sensibilities. While the inner journey is marked by revelation, the outer journey is visually stunning, with magnificent vistas of South Korea's mountain ranges, verdant fields, waterfalls and small towns.
Best Documentary - Durban International Film Festival
Official Selection - Hot Docs, Melbourne International Film Festival, South by Southwest, Mostra International Film Festival, and Silverdocs
Visit the Intangible Asset Number 82 official site
Learn more about this interview in a blog post by Michal Shapiro, Link TV's World Music expert.
About DOC-DEBUT
This film originally aired as part of DOC-DEBUT, a series on Link TV highlighting unique and groundbreaking international documentary films. Each week features the U.S. television premiere of a new foreign doc, offering American audiences unprecedented perspectives on world events and culture, as seen through the eyes of individuals across the globe. The series also provides a unique outlet for films by independent directors and producers to reach a much wider international audience.
DOC-DEBUT airs every Sunday at 8pm Pacific and every Saturday at 8pm Eastern.
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