Pena, a blind Creole American blues guitarist who travels to Tuva to take part in a musical competition.

Where? Actually its a republic sandwiched between Siberia and Mongolia -- not the first place that comes to mind when you're planning a vacation -- and for all intents and purposes it might be on another planet.

Nevertheless Pena, who, as well as possessing a voice that makes Barry White sound positively pre-pubescent also happens to be blind, discovered Tuvan throatsinging while tweaking his radio dial back home in the States. While to western ears this particular style of singing seems anything but musical, (actually its humming tones are reminiscent of the didgereedoo) Pena became hooked and set about learning the technique -- along with a bit of Tuvan vocabulary along the way.

Invited to take part in Tuva's national annual throatsinging competition in 1995, Pena and his entourage travelled across half the world to take part.

But while the storyline of `Ghengis Blues' centres around the competition, it's not really what the film is about.

Neither is it a glossy promo for the Tuva Tourism Board -- while some of the republic's scenery is spectacular, this is a low budget movie shot on video camera and film was apparently not allowed into the country. What it is about is the wonderful friendships that blossom between the ever-genial Pena and the people of Tuva.

Pena's guide during his stay in the country is throatsinging master Kongarol Ondar. Although they share a love of throatsinging they could otherwise be from different worlds, at least initially. While Pena may sometimes feel that he's stepping foot on another plant, he is equally viewed with the awe one might expect if one encountered an alien life form.

But despite these barriers of language and culture the pair soon hit it off and develop a strong bond.

Not everything goes smoothly and there are numerous tribulations along the way. Indeed Pena doesn't actually go on to win the competition -- although he does pick up an award for best foreign act -- but in the end it doesn't seem to matter, it's no longer the focus of the film.

A simple and beautiful story, simply and beautifully told. A must see.

GARETH FINIGHAN REVIEW REV MOVIES MPC