1ÅÝֱܽ²¥

Rudoy focuses on the titular duo, cousins Gazi “Dusty� Simelane and Lindokuhle “Stones� Msibi, from the Kingdom of Swaziland.

It may be surprising to see country music’s appeal beyond our rootin’ tootin’ shores, but it has managed to find a foothold worldwide with country bands popping up internationally with small, but often devoted fan bases.

The genre is still in its relative infancy in Swaziland, meaning that Dusty and Stones have struggled to find a foothold there, playing for line dancing night in a far too well-lit venue, meager crowds at muddy auto races, or having to travel to South Africa to play gigs. Their manager expresses concern over this, but the two are determined to bring to others the music that speaks deeply to them.

When we meet them, they get news that they have been selected to perform for the International Country Music Awards in Jefferson, Texas, after the organizer had seen them perform on YouTube.

If you’ve never heard of that particular competition, you’re not the only one. Our dauntless duo pack Stetsons and guitars and take their first flights to the birthplace of country music, Nashville, where they record a couple of their original songs before making the trek to east Texas.

Once in Jefferson, they quickly realize this isn’t quite what they had imagined. Despite it all, they manage to stay true to themselves and their art.

The whole story feels like it could have been scripted, but isn’t. The way the events unfold and the way the world around them reacts to these Swazi guys in Wranglers and singing Johnny Cash could just as easily be the next great darling indie from A24. But it’s real.

The style of filmmaking is a little rougher and maybe not as polished as something with a bigger studio backing it, but it works in tandem with the underdog story being told.

Rudoy captures Dusty and Stones’ personalities so beautifully. Both of these men are almost giddy when it comes to their music, bearing their hearts in every strum and their souls in every lyric.

There is a moment in the film when we are introduced to their grandparents, who raised them more as brothers when both of their parents passed away, and you can see just how strong those ties to family and home are. Regardless of how far away their sound comes from or how far they’ll go with it, they will always be deeply rooted in their home country. And that is kind of the overall point of country music, to always find that truth within you.

In another moment we see Dusty and Stones behind the master switches in a Nashville studio as they listen to their song “The River� for the first time with professional session musicians backing them, and you cry right alongside them.

Their love for their music is powerful and their care for one another is equally palpable. Seeing the world through them is enough to make anyone want to stand up and start square dancing.

We are brought along this ride with these two incredibly charming men and their incredibly endearing story in such a way that Rudoy and his team make you almost forget this is a documentary. The charm of the subjects and the joy that they emanate when they perform suck you right in you can’t help but root for Dusty & Stones.