The Last Song Before the War is a touching tribute to the legendary Festival au Désert music festival that took place
in Northern Mali from 2001 to 2012. Masterfully interspersing footage of stunning musical performances from a variety
of North African and international artists (Tinarawen, Oumou Sangaré), panoramic shots displaying the quiet beauty of
the Sahara Desert, stirring images of legions of Tuareg nomads arriving by camel, and interviews with musicians, fans,
and the event’s founder, the documentary captures both the joy and the mounting tension of the festival‘s final year
before it was forced into exile when Islamic militants seized control of the region in 2012.