Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat - Official Trailer

In theaters November 1.
United Nations, 1960: the Global South ignites a political earthquake, jazz musicians Abbey Lincoln and Max Roach crash the Security Council, Nikita Khrushchev bangs his shoe, and the U.S. State Department swings into action, sending jazz ambassador Louis Armstrong to the Congo to deflect attention from the CIA-backed coup. Director Johan Grimonprez explores a moment when jazz, colonialism, and espionage collided, constructing a riveting historical rollercoaster that illuminates the political machinations behind the 1961 assassination of Congolese independence leader Patrice Lumumba. The result is a revelatory documentary richly illustrated by eyewitness accounts, official government memos, testimonies from mercenaries and CIA operatives, speeches from Lumumba himself, and a veritable canon of jazz icons. Sundance award winner Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat interrogates colonial history to tell an urgent and timely story that resonates more than ever in today’s geopolitical climate.

[@headythomas954]

Absolutely BRILLIANT filmmaking....Simply a MASTERPIECE

[@jgambrinus]

Saw this weekend at Film Forum. Profoundly unsettling. The implicit critique of Tesla, Apple et al as exploitative of the Congo as the US Government (Uranium) and Belgium (Colonizer) is chilling.

[@nandoedels]

One of the best docu’s I’ve ever seen

[@MartinoKnockavelli]

Wow quite the contrast, looking forward to seeing this.

[@georgeleddy483]

Thanks!

[@carlosacta8726]

Can't wait to see this!!! It looks like it's going to cause quite a stir!!!

[@makalanibandele2348]

This looks dope asf. What fascinating premise and exploration of a tumultuous and critical time in world politics. Much of the world's present organization was established in this era. Must see.

[@ciaraellis222]

Seeing this tonight, can't wait!

[@ShadowKingpin]

How was it?

[@HaagentheDazs]

where can I watch this? I want to see it so bad!

[@UhuruUhuru]

Hi commenting from South Africa. Where can I find this film?

[@wildblueyonder5702]

Jared Ball did a first thoughts video on this @imixwhatilike and people are dropping viewing platforms in the comments David Hundeyin just did a interview on Maisha Kazini about his unlearning liberal indoctrination which is a long form version of why Africans find it hard to connect these dots due to neocolonial education and imperial propaganda (Hollywood, CNN, BBC etc) - ie understanding psychological warfare OG though is Michael Parenti on media and its role in prolonging neo colonisation generally and Frances Stonor Saunders wrote a one of the earliest books “The Cultural Cold War: Who Paid the Piper” on Ford and other foundations funded artists such as jazz musicians to help bind Africans here and in diaspora to imperialist values and buttress neocolonialism

[@glitchoutkid]

excellent excellent film

[@tma-1701]

I have only found out recently that the USSR called it an anti-colonial champion while effectively colonizing all its non-Russian members quite unfairly

[@tonygohagan2766]

Could be interesting - We'll see. Johan Grimonprez is from Belgium, thus he's filming in the Shadow of King Leopold's Ghost, specifically given this film's subject. (Of course; Johan Grimonprez is not responsible for that initial Colonisation, or any of it's desolations.) But: few people know anything of King Leopold 2nd of Belgium: once the, sole, very Owner - of Congo.

[@kaaaputnik]

Saw it yesterday - very good film. Pulls no punches whatsoever when it comes to depicting Leopold's, and later the Belgian state's, unrepentant brutality towards the Congo. It's a scathing work.

[@rawbluecheese]

@@kaaaputnik Saw it today at a film festival and yes no punches were pulled. An excellent documentary. Incredibly eye opening piece of work. As it were, something smells rotton in the state of Belgium.

[@jaka2274]

​@@rawbluecheese When in belgium, try crossing any border, and that smell remains.

[@Headhunter_212]

Stares in Adam Hochschild

[@heatherpopovic562]

Is there anywhere I can stream this?