60
The New York Times by Dave Kehr
Informal, pleasant film that ably captures Mr. Traoré's spirit.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
80
Kar Kar's singing is wonderfully expressive, and an improvised song to his wife at her grave site demonstrates the emotional wellspring of his music.
50
Director Jacques Sarasin lazily relies on a talking-heads/archival-footage approach to tell Traoré's story, doing little to put it in context and assuming a lot more knowledge of Malian history than most viewers possess.
80
Educational value aside, pic is exciting for its extended performance sequences, with the most notable finding Traore and Farke strolling with guitars through the acoustically amazing atrium of an abandoned mud schoolhouse.
70
Village Voice by Laura Sinagra
The reverent pacing lags a bit, but the film's meditation on the struggle to find spirituality that reconciles Islam with tribal belief systems is powerful in its understatement, and its wordless observation of France's Malian community quietly evidences daily cultural preservation amid the hard labor.
50
Washington Post by Michael O'Sullivan
It never really feels like we've gotten to know the man himself, leaving the figure at the heart of I'll Sing for You a cipher.
67
Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman
One of those sanctifying docs that rambles when it should explore.
60
A meandering and disappointing documentary about one of Africa's most beloved yet elusive musical giants.
75
For fans of African music, "Sing" is a rich archeological dig; for newcomers with open ears, it might be a revelation.
63
Enjoyable if only to hear KarKar perform his mournful and personal songs, including a tender tribute to his late wife.