‘Soundtrack To A Coup d’Etat’ Documentary Review – Jazz Infused Congo Tale Is Top Tier Viewing

If you love jazz and an inspired editing style, “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” is definitely worth a look. Director Johan Gimonprez gives an in-depth look at the 1961 assassination of Congolese prime minister Patrice Lumumba. There are a lot of players in this 150 minute documentary, but watching this feature was, at least to me and Bruce Purkey, an immeasurably immersive experience.

“Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” is now playing at New York’s Film Forum and it will play in more theaters in the ensuing weeks. For more info, go to Kino Lorber.

I’m a huge jazz fan, so learning about Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong’s visit to the Congo was part of a U.S. government plan, was a total revelation. The documentary also features Nina Simone’s “Wild Is The Wind” as a prominent piece of its music, and if you are a jazz fan seeing John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy, Abbey Lincoln, and Max Roach should be a reason to catch “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat.”

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Check out CinemAddicts co-host Bruce Purkey’s review of “Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat” via YouTube or our CinemAddicts Podcast.

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