IFI to screen documentaries about Native American pop visionaries and the life of Mexican singer Chavela Vargas

Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World is directed by Catherine Bainbridge and Alfonso Maiorana, and tells the stories of a number of visionary Native American pop musicians. Featuring music legends Jimi Hendrix and Robbie Robertson who shed light on the role played by Native Americans in the history of popular music, the documentary also includes interviews with other iconic artists such as Iggy Pop, Buddy Guy and Martin Scorsese.

Rumble covers nearly one hundred years of music encompassing Delta Blues and jazz to contemporary hip hop by way of rock’n’roll, taking ‘Link’ Wray Jr.’s seminal guitar instrumental ‘Rumble’ as a point of departure.

Chavela is directed by Catherine Gund and Daresha Kyi, and reflects upon the extraordinary life of Mexican singer Chavela Vargas, whose music was frequently used in the films of Pedro Almodóvar.

Chavela revolutionised Mexican traditional singing in the 1950’s whilst simultaneously challenging heterocultural norms. An unabashedly out, trouser-wearing lesbian whose taste for tequila and women was as well-known as her music, the documentary is a celebration of her refusal to conform.

Chavela screens on Friday, Sept 29th at 20:30, and Rumble screens on Saturday 30th September at 20:40.

The two trailers can be viewed below: