Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat

Documentary Wednesday in collaboration with the Dokudoc Festival.
Maribor premiere.

A stunning fusion of a musical documentary and a fierce critique of colonialism and the destructive forces of capitalism during the decolonization era of the late 1950s and early 1960s. At a time when African countries were declaring independence one after another, and Third World nations were founding the Non-Aligned Movement, the balance of power and influence of the USA at the United Nations also shifted dramatically. The newly formed Democratic Republic of Congo, led by Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, became the main battleground between capitalist and communist forces, aiming to take control of invaluable uranium and other mineral mines and to break free from centuries of Belgian domination. Simultaneously, the US government sent some of its greatest jazz musicians—Louis Armstrong, Max Roach, Nina Simone, and others—as “musical ambassadors” under the guise of a “peace mission” and distraction campaign in Africa. This provided Johan Grimonprez with material for a top-tier blend of thematic and musical explosiveness.

The film is enriched with a wealth of musical material from top jazz artists (Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Nina Simone, and others), whom the US government sent to Africa as a kind of peace ambassadors. This injects an emotional intensity that archival footage of political debates and statements by officials alone could never achieve. The playful jazz rhythms ironically—sometimes gently, other times sharply—undermine the authority of the decision-makers of the time, while the powerful vocal performances reveal the tragic dimensions of political scheming.

Minoriti Open Air Cinema • Organization and production Puppet theater Maribor, Minoriti cultural quarter, Society for the development of film culture • The program is supported by the Municipality of Maribor • Sponsors Radenska, Lunos, OTP banka