Paul Simon subject of new documentary

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 23 (UPI) -- The director whose 1996 documentary about the West Memphis Three helped earn their release says he has completed a film on Paul Simon's return to South Africa.

Joe Berlinger's documentary "Paradise Lost" won him an Emmy and a Peabody award. He's since made two sequels centering on the Arkansas killings -- projects to which he has been devoted, and now he says he glad to have a break from the case, the Los Angeles Times reported Monday.

Berlinger and his partner Bruce Sinofsky's Paul Simon project centers around the composer's 25th anniversary observance of his critically acclaimed album, "Graceland."

"It's all about the musicians he hadn't seen in all these years. It's a perfect antidote to the tragedy that ['Paradise Lost'] has been," Berlinger said.

"Graceland" was a collaborative effort involving black musicians from the South Africa and showcasing the vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Despite the preponderance of black musicians involved in the work, Simon's actual trip was criticized because there was still an anti-apartheid boycott in place.

The U.N. anti-apartheid committee eventually found Simon not in violation of the boycott because he didn't support the South African government in any way, the Times said.

Berlinger and Sinofsky are in editing now hoping to have the movie ready in time for the Sundance Film Festival in 2012.