SOUNDTRACK TO A COUP D’ETAT

Belgium, France, Netherlands | 2024 | 150 min | col.

1960: sixteen African countries were admitted to the United Nations, triggering a political earthquake. To keep the wealth of former Belgian Congo under control, King Baudouin found an ally in Eisenhower, who was afraid of losing access to the reserves of uranium, a vital component in the production of atom bombs. Visiting as ambassador, jazz musician Louis Armstrong became the unwitting cover for the first post-colonial coup in Africa, while other artists, such as Nina Simone, Duke Ellington, and Dizzy Gillespie had to face a serious dilemma: how to represent a country in which racial segregation is still in force? The cold war reached its zenith when Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev accused the United Nations of aiding and abetting Lumumba’s destitution in front of the General Assembly. A masterly story told from many points of view with a syncopated rhythm about how African self-determination in the sixties was undermined. (a.s.)

The event is finished.

Local Time

  • Timezone: America/New_York
  • Date: 10 Nov 2024
  • Time: 9:00

Location

Cinema La Compagnia
Cinema La Compagnia - Via Camillo Cavour, 50/R, 50121 Florence
Johan Grimonprez

Organizer

Johan Grimonprez

Johan Grimonprez’s work depicts intimate stories that brush up against the bigger picture of globalization. His works include: Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y (1997), Double Take (2009), Shadow World (2016) that premiered at the Tribeca Festival and won the Best Documentary Award at the 2016 Edinburgh FF. Presented at many prestigious festivals (Berlinale, Sundance, Tribeca) his films have won several awards.

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