First Look Teaser for ‘Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat’ Music History Doc
by Alex Billington
May 5, 2024
Source: YouTube
“But did he have rhythm?” Madman Films has revealed the first look trailer for an acclaimed documentary film titled Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, made by Belgian filmmaker Johan Grimonprez. This film is an entrancing look back at a major moment in global politics during the Cold War, intertwining music history & pop culture with these events. Jazz & decolonization are entwined in this historical rollercoaster that led musicians Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach to crash the UN Security Council in protest against the murder of Patrice Lumumba. After Lumumba was murdered in 1961, the US State Department swings into action by sending jazz ambassador Louis Armstrong to Congo to deflect attention from the CIA-backed coup in the country. The doc features excerpts from My Country, Africa by Andrée Blouin (narrated by Marie Daulne aka Zap Mama), Congo Inc. by In Koli Jean Bofane, To Katanga & Back by Conor Cruise O’Brien (narrated by Patrick Cruise O’Brien), and audio memoirs by Nikita Khrushchev. This trailer doesn’t exactly represent the film’s style, it’s more of an intro to the context and political situation. Keep an eye out for this one soon.
First look trailer (+ poster) for Johan Grimonprez’s doc Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, from YouTube:
Jazz and decolonization are entwined in this historical rollercoaster that rewrites the Cold War episode that led musicians Abbey Lincoln & Max Roach to crash the UN Security Council in protest of the murder of Congolese leader Patrice Lumumba. It’s 1961, six months after the admission of 16 newly independent African countries to the UN, a political earthquake that shifts the majority vote from colonial powers to the Global South. As Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev bangs his shoe in indignation at the UN’s complicity in the overthrow of Lumumba, the US State Department swings into action by sending jazz ambassador Louis Armstrong to Congo to deflect attention from the CIA-backed coup. Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat is directed by Belgian doc filmmaker Johan Grimonprez, of the doc films Dial H-I-S-T-O-R-Y, Double Take, Shadow World, and Blue Orchids previously, plus many other short films and doc projects. Produced by Rémi Grellety and Daan Milius; co-produced by Katja Draaijer and Frank Hoeve. This initially premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, and it also screened at the CPH:DOX, Thessaloniki, and Docville Film Festivals this year. No final release dates are set – stay tuned for news. Who wants to watch?
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