Life Is Rosy (1987)
"La vie est belle" (original title)

Kourou comes from a village to Kinshasa, Zaire's capital and the center of World Beat; music is in his heart and he has big dreams. Right away he gets a job as a domestic for Mamou, the ... See full summary »

Directors:

Benoît Lamy, Mweze Ngangura

Writers:

Benoît Lamy, Maryse León García,

Stars:

Papa Wemba, Bibi Krubwa, Landu Nzunzimbu Matshia

2 wins.

Cast

Credited cast:
Papa Wemba	...	Kourou
Bibi Krubwa	...	Kabibi
Landu Nzunzimbu Matshia	...	Mamou
Kanko Kasongo	...	Nvouandou
Lokinda Menji Feza	...	Nzazi
Kalimazi Lombume Riva	...	Mongali
Mazaza Mukoko	...	Mama Dingari, la mère de Kourou
Tumba Ayila	...	Le nain Emoro
Mujinga Mbuji Inabanza	...	Cherie Bondowe
Bwanando Ngimbi	...	Maitre Nganga
Pépé Kallé	...	Pépé Kallé
Alamba Engongo	...	Le chauffeur de Nvouandou
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Maître Nono	...	Maître Nono

Storyline

Kourou comes from a village to Kinshasa, Zaire's capital and the center of World Beat; music is in his heart and he has big dreams. Right away he gets a job as a domestic for Mamou, the loud wife of a club owner, and he falls in love with Kabibi, a virginal young woman who wants to be a secretary. Meanwhile, Nvouandou, the club owner, childless after twenty years of marriage, wants a second wife and determines to marry Kabibi. Mamou pretends to approve of the match, but behind her husband's back, she pushes Kabibi into the arms of Kourou. Can Kourou win Kabibi's hand and fulfill his dreams of being a singer; can Mamou recapture the affections of Nvouandou?

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Plot Keywords:

zaire

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Musical

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Details

Country:

Belgium France Zaire

Language:

French

Release Date:

15 June 1988 (France)

Also Known As:

Life Is Beautiful

Filming Locations:

Kinshasa, Democratic Republic Of Congo

Company Credits

Production Co:

Direction de l'Audio-Visuel du Ministère de la Communauté Française de Belgique, Lamy Films, Ministère des Relations Extérieures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

80 min

Sound Mix:

Mono Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Zomergasten: Episode #6.3 (1993)

User Reviews

Fun and frolics in Zaire

A simple tale, and a well-rehearsed one perhaps. A young man from the country travels to the 'big city' and tries out his luck making music.

It's lively, colourful, constantly moving and musically enjoyable. The characters tend to border on caricatures (clearly deliberately so), and the overwhelming cheerfulness and optimism of the movie makes for an enjoyable time.

It's not the ideal choice for anyone looking for a profound and revealing account of life in Zaire, it's much too frivolous for that. On the other hand it does provide a revealing sketch of street-life in Kinshasa which viewers from outside Africa may appreciate.