Kino immer anders
When the Congo gained independence under Patrice Lumumba in 1960, he became the target of the CIA and the Belgian colonial power, who attempted to destabilise the country. This Franco-Belgian-Dutch documentary by Belgian director Johan Grimonprez tells the story of the decolonisation of the Congo in the 1960s and the role that black jazz music played in it. The CIA used this music as a weapon and sent musicians such as Louis Armstrong to the Congo to consolidate Western control. This story sparked heated debates at the UN, which play a prominent role in the documentary.
Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, nominated for ‘Best Documentary’ at the 2025 Oscars, impresses with its incredible research, its superb presentation of historical facts and its incredible interplay between history and music.
Luca Frei
