Bande-son pour un coup d'État

During my life on the European continent, in a wealthy country that has benefitted enormously through the ages by suppressing other cultures, the stories of peoples enduring this suppression have been supressed enough that a story of this magnitude can suddenly struck you into silence.

A breathtaking musical journey depicting the rise and fall of the first Premier of Congo, Mr. Patrice Lumumba, showing the atrocities that the powers that be had to commit to steer history into a different direction.

I would like to implore anyone who hasn't seen this, to view this at your own peril, because this powerful documentary can blow your mind.

Two and a half hours an not a moment of boredom. The story (or stories) it tells are amazing, the punches to the gut are well-spaced out, like a boxer wearing down his/her opponent until the final KO. Maybe the best music documentary ever? Certainly one of the most substantial. May only regret is not having time to note down all the books whose titles flashed up on screen in accompaniment of the many quotations, like on-screen footnotes. All in all, a wonderful film which unfortunatley I will never forget.

That was the review, but more words are required. This was at the San Sebastian International Festival. Big screen is beswt, I reckon, because it will force you to concentrate.

Thanks to all concerned in the making of this film.

It's a documentary on the birth of the Republic of Congo and the assassination of its first prime minister, Patrice Lumumba. The approach incorporates much film footage from about 1950 to the early 1960s, juxtaposing the music and comments of leading jazz musicians of the era with contemporary news footage. Particular emphasis is placed on the various political machinations at the United Nations by Nikita Khrushchev, Dwight Eisenhower, Adlai Stevenson, and other world leaders, including Fidel Castro and Malcolm X.

At some levels, "Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat" is an intelligent and brilliant work with an incredible musical score. However, it takes too long to make the fundamental connection between the American jazz musicians and Patrice Lumumba. When it finally does, it's highly effective, but a half hour could easily have been edited from the final production.

What do jazz and a Coup d'Etat in Central Africa have in common? This documentary by Belgian filmmaker Johan Grimonprez uses a wide selection of historic footage to tell the story, spy thriller style. From American jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong and Nina Simone performing in Africa as good-will ambassadors, to on-the-ground scenes in the Congo as a Coup dÉtat brewed, powerful images fill the screen in rapid sequence. The narrative moves fast for 2 hours and 30 minutes, fusing music, sound, images and graphics to create a new kind of film. Although scenes were shot over half a century ago, the film feels fresh, urgent and contemporary.

This is not a "casual watching" kind of movie. I am glad I watched at home, because I had to stop and rewind a few times. At the end of the intense 150 minutes, one feels they experienced an immersion into a period of history through contemporary eyes, a rewarding dive. Brilliantly researched and edited, a Sundance Cinematic Innovation award recipient and Oscar nominee for Best Documentary, this film moves like jazz.

The documentary is a mishmash of beautiful composed edits using American jazz music to carry the content through its highs and lows.

There's 2 hours plus of significant content. That can be daunting to those unfamiliar with US foreign policy in Congo or in the western reactions to post colonialism. Still it's beautifully done. And it will hopefully raise more awareness in America's use of soft power especially in foreign country regime change.

Congo is the main focus of the documentary but it's a symbol of many other countries including those in Africa, Latin America and Asia. If anything this should start conversations in how entertainers are used by governments to fulfill foreign affairs.