Kristen Lara
By Kristen Lara
Daily Bruin Contributor
After college, the straight path to the suit-and-tie,
caffeine-fueled “real” world may seem inevitable. By
following their dream, however, Adrian and Roko Bellic are living
proof that the road less traveled often yields the richest life
experiences.
The Bellic brothers’ feature debut, “Genghis
Blues,” documents Paul Pena’s spiritual journey.
Inspired by their friend and vocalist, Kongar-Ol Ondar, Pena
embarks on a cultural exchange fired by a passion for music.
“Often times people in college think they have to intern
for someone, or once college is over you’ve got to get a real
job and that you’re stuck in the real, cruel world,”
Roko said. “I hope (our film) inspires people in college to
do things that they’re passionate about, not just things they
feel they’re supposed to do.”
The film was originally released in theaters in 1999, and was
nominated for an Academy Award as well as being honored at both
national and international film festivals. It will be available on
video and DVD on Dec. 5.
“”˜Genghis Blues’ is a documentary about two
people, a dream, a journey, a struggle and, ultimately,
triumph,” Adrian said in a recent phone interview. “It
takes people to a place that most people don’t believe
exists, to a culture that people have never before seen, and a
singing style that people have to hear to believe.”
 The subject of the film, blind blues musician Pena,
begins his journey from San Francisco after picking up a Moscow
radio station on his shortwave radio. He hears a style of music he
has never before encountered and is immediately enthralled.
What he eagerly listens to is Tuvan throatsinging, a musical
technique in which one singer’s voice simultaneously produces
multiple tones. Over time, Pena is able to master the unique
singing style that originated from the cultural tradition of the
people of Tuva, a little-known republic wedged between Siberia and
Mongolia.
The brothers document Pena’s voyage from the United
States, where the Creole American continually finds himself
ostracized from society as a result of both his race and his
physical handicap, to the land of Tuva. Through his music and
with the help of Tuvan throatsinging master, Kongar-Ol Ondar, he
transcends cultural boundaries and establishes lasting
friendships.
Pena is immediately met with warmth and acceptance, eventually
rising to become the first non-Tuvan to receive the honor of
“throatsinging champion” during the country’s
annual competition.
“The first time I met Paul, I felt like I was a kid going
to see his music idol,” Roko said. “It was really
amazing for me to be in his aura.”
“We knew anywhere Paul goes, magic is going to
happen,” Adrian added.
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On many levels, “Genghis Blues” is a film about
personal growth. Through the Bellics’ work, the documentary
poignantly and earnestly captures Pena’s strength and
artistic genius as he surmounts the overwhelming obstacles looming
in the way of the realization of his dream.
In the same way, the completion of the film itself is a
testament to the realization of both Adrian and Roko’s dreams
not only to travel to Tuva, but also to further pursue their chosen
art of film cinematography.
Adrian and Roko capture Pena’s experiences on film as
their journey takes them to the almost idyllic and mythic land that
the brothers had been vying to reach since being inspired in
college by the groundbreaking work of filmmaker Ralph Leighton and
of the late physicist Richard Feynman. Leighton and Feynman were
the two men responsible for first largely introducing the mysteries
of Tuvan culture to Western civilization.
“The way (Leighton and Feynman) described Tuva ““
yaks, throatsinging, snow-capped mountains ““ to us, it was
Shangri-la,” Adrian said.
While traveling alongside the bluesman, the brothers underwent
their own journeys.
“After that experience, I’m about one hundred times
better a filmmaker,” Roko said. “I learned that the
most important thing in the film world is the emotion you can
elicit from people.”
Similarly, Adrian found himself growing as an individual as a
result of the voyage to Tuva.
“For me, it was a vertically integrated experience,
meaning I learned little everyday stuff, stuff about myself, about
humanity, and about the power of one individual to make big
changes,” he said .
 To the Bellics, the completion of their debut feature is
a success in itself, a success that was realized when they
graduated college and realized the limitless possibilities before
them. Rather than integrating themselves into the working world,
both young men decided to pursue the direction that most intrigued
and captivated them.
“The reason we made “˜Genghis Blues’ is that
when we finished college, we were free for the rest of our
lives,” Adrian said. “I hope that people can maybe see
the film and hear our story and realize that we really have to get
out of our comfort zones and try something new.”
The brothers emphasized the fact that they did not originally
journey to Tuva with the intent of creating a message, but rather
to pursue their dream, while perhaps inspiring others to do the
same.
“One, I hope people are entertained,” Adrian said.
“Two, I hope they learn something that they didn’t know
before. I want them to think that if these crazy people can do what
they did, (then) I can do what I want to do.”
According to Adrian, his hope is that the story resonates with
the audience and motivates them to take all they can out of
life.
“It’s important that people give themselves just a
sliver of a break and take a chance and do something “¦ for
one week, work with the homeless or go to South Africa or study
meditation,” he said. “Take a chance. Take
it.”
FILM: “Genghis Blues” will be available on video and
DVD on Dec. 5. For more information, go to www.genghisblues.com