Program(s)
Make Some Noise!
Set(s)
"Oscars" package
This essay documentary takes us to the 1960s Congo, where a CIA-backed coup takes place, and the charismatic leader Patrice Lumumba is assassinated. Masterfully woven archival footage and a pulsating jazz soundtrack expose the political machinations that led to this tragedy. Through the lens of music, the film explores how American jazz artists like Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie – unknowingly – became pawns in the Cold War power game, with their concerts serving as a distraction from political turmoil.
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“Nominated for an Academy Award, Soundtrack to a Coup d’État is a masterfully composed documentary that seamlessly weaves music, history, and politics to expose the hidden forces behind the 1961 assassination of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba. The film unravels a complex web of Cold War tensions, covert CIA operations, and Africa’s struggle for independence. Johan Grimonprez delivers not only a powerful indictment of Western imperialism but also a tribute to those who, against all odds, fought for freedom and justice. This documentary is a must-watch for anyone intrigued by the intricate ties between music and politics and the ongoing fight for decolonization.” (Programme curator Karolis Žukas)
Credentials
- DirectingJohan Grimonprez
- The scriptJohan Grimonprez
- AssemblyRik Chaubet
- CameraJonathan Wannyn
- ProducingDaan Milius, Rémi Grellety
- SoundRanko Pauković
- TranslationMarius Juknevičius
- DialoguesFrench, English, Russian, Dutch
- SubtitlesLithuanian, English
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