Lumumba (2000)

The true story of controversial leader of independent Congo, Patrice Lumumba.

Director:

Raoul Peck

Writers:

Pascal Bonitzer, Dan Edelstein (English dubbed version)

Stars:

Eriq Ebouaney, Alex Descas, Théophile Sowié

3 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Eriq Ebouaney	...	Patrice Émery Lumumba
Alex Descas	...	Joseph Mobutu
Théophile Sowié	...	Maurice Mpolo (as Théophile Moussa Sowie)
Maka Kotto	...	Joseph Kasa Vubu
Dieudonné Kabongo	...	Godefroid Munungo
Pascal N'Zonzi	...	Moïse Tshombe
André Debaar	...	Walter J. Ganshof Van der Meersch
Cheik Doukouré	...	Joseph Okito
Makena Diop	...	Thomas Kanza (as Oumar Diop Makena)
Mariam Kaba	...	Pauline Lumumba
Rudi Delhem	...	Général Emile Janssens
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Francis Adam	...	Le maître d'hôtel
Olivier Bony	...	BAUDOIN
Alain Bouillé	...	Le pilote du Dakota
Pavel Dobrovsky	...	Belgian soldier

Storyline

The true story of the rise to power and brutal assassination of the formerly vilified and later redeemed leader of the independent Congo, Patrice Lumumba. Using newly discovered historical evidence, Haitian-born and later Congo-raised writer and director Raoul Peck renders an emotional and tautly woven account of the mail clerk and beer salesman with a flair for oratory and an uncompromising belief in the capacity of his homeland to build a prosperous nation independent of its former Belgium overlords. Lumumba emerges here as the heroic sacrificial lamb dubiously portrayed by the international media and led to slaughter by commercial and political interests in Belgium, the United States, the international community, and Lumumba's own administration; a true story of political intrigue and murder where political entities, captains of commerce, and the military dovetail in their quest for economic and political hegemony.

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Plot Keywords:

deception | belgium | patrice lumumba | intrigue | assassination | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

France Belgium Germany Haiti

Language:

French Lingala English

Release Date:

27 September 2000 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

Lumumba, retour au Congo

Filming Locations:

Belgium

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$24,625, 1 July 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$684,121, 16 December 2001

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arte France Cinéma,Arte,Canal+

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min 120 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Did You Know?

Trivia

Visa d'exploitation en France # 86742.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Patrice Émery Lumumba: [voice over narration] You never knew about that night in Katanga. No one was to know.

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Connections

Referenced in Cinemania (2002)

User Reviews

A must see film. Excellent drama with historical backing

This movie is the best movie I have seen in a long time. It is also the best movie seen that uses a drama to tell history, without going to speculation such as with JFK,Nixon or Hoffa. It deftly depicts the clutches that Belgium had on the Congo. It also teases out easily for us the European and American forces that were behind the power the inflict the Congo today. The film was sure to specifically implicate the U.S., rightly so, in the murder of Lumumba. This film could never be made in the U.S. for U.S. film rarely criticizes itself in acts of imperialism and murder. (Save Stone's JFK) It also lets us in on the problems that were present with the inner conflict of the Congo, between Lumumba, Mobutu and Katanga. We can see how precarious countries sit in establishing new governments when their history is one of colonization and those who were the colonizers continue to pull the strings of power and force. The film is excellently shot with Eriq Ebouaney an excellent Lumumba. The cast is great and they really draw you into the feeling of the climate in the Congo during that time.

Again, this is a must see for those who love drama with a correct historical background. See my notes on Quilombo.