Film
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat
Documentary · 2h 30m
Where to see it
There are no screenings listed for this film right now.
About
Jazz and decolonization intertwine in a Cold War episode that brings musicians to the United Nations in 1960.
Johan Grimonprez's documentary Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat revisits the Cold War around 1960, when sixteen newly independent African countries entered the United Nations and shifted the majority vote away from the old colonial powers. In that setting, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev speaks against what the film calls a neo-colonial power grab in Congo and denounces America's colour bar, while the United States sends jazz ambassador Louis Armstrong to Congo. Singer Abbey Lincoln and drummer Max Roach appear at the UN Security Council in protest. Archive footage also features Patrice Lumumba, Dizzy Gillespie, Andrée Blouin and Malcolm X. The film brings jazz and decolonization together in a tense Cold War episode.
Story written by Evenitto from TMDB, Wikipedia and the cinemas' notes
Trailer
Official trailer · TMDBYouTube
Cast and crew
Patrice Lumumbaas Self (archive footage)
Louis Armstrongas Self (archive footage)
Nikita Khrushchevas Self (archive footage)
Dizzy Gillespieas Self (archive footage)
Andrée Blouinas Self (archive footage)
Abbey Lincolnas Self (archive footage)
Max Roachas Self (archive footage)
Malcolm Xas Self (archive footage)
Nina Simoneas Self (archive footage)
John Coltraneas Self (archive footage)
Duke Ellingtonas Self (archive footage)
Miriam Makebaas Self (archive footage)
Photos: TMDB
- Director
- Johan Grimonprez
- Written by
- Johan Grimonprez
- Producers
- Daan Milius, Rémi Grellety
- Camera
- Jonathan Wannyn
- Editing
- Rik Chaubet
- Countries
- Belgium, France, Netherlands
- Studios
- Onomatopee Films, Warboys Films, Zap-O-Matik, ZKM Karlsruhe, BALDR Film, RTBF, VRT
Good to know
- Running time
- 2 hours 30 minutes
- Language
- AR, Dutch, English, French, German, LN, RU, Spanish
Questions
How long is Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat?
2 hours 30 minutes. Most cinemas add 15 to 20 minutes of trailers first, so plan for about 2 hours 50 minutes.
What language is Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat in?
Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat is in AR, Dutch, English, French, German, LN, RU and Spanish. A foreign-language film normally plays in its original version with Dutch subtitles.
Who is in Soundtrack to a Coup d'Etat?
Patrice Lumumba plays Self (archive footage), with Louis Armstrong, Nikita Khrushchev, Dizzy Gillespie, Andrée Blouin and Abbey Lincoln.
This product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.