This Is Congo

Congo, abused by first the European colonialists, and then by the multinationals, has been caught in a seemingly endless cycle of brutul civil war for decased now, a scramble for mineral wealth in the absence of legitimate authority. 'This is Congo' offers us a portrait of the country, that shows both its beauty, and the mundane horror of the fighting, the latter filmed from remarkably close to the action. One gets a sense that the grievances on both sides are probably true, yet none of the heroes are worthy of that word. Away from the fighting, we also get a glimpse of how ordinary people live - and I'd have preferred to see more of this, about how people actually manage their everyday lives while war is going on around them. But it's still an informative portrait of what it actually means to live in a country usually prefaced by the adjective "war-torn", although it's one that offers few signs hope.

Greetings again from the darkness. We citizens of the United States complain if our coffee is too strong or the line to purchase our new shoes is too long. In fact, we are world famous for our tendency to complain about anything and everything. Filmmaker Daniel McCabe never compares us directly to those in his subject country - but then he doesn't need to. The words and pictures speak for themselves. For most, if not all of their lives, citizens of The Congo have been immersed in war ... each day a struggle to survive, with only rare moments of feeling safe.

McCabe's approach is to show us the lives of three separate individuals - each different, yet the same. We meet Colonel Ndala, a Congolese Army officer and war hero who has 12 bullet wounds to show for his love of country. There is also Mama Romance, an illegal mineral dealer who for 10 years has risked her life to make a better one. Lastly, there is Hakiza Nyantaba, an elderly tailor who totes his sewing machine with him every time war forces him to evacuate his home for the latest displacement camp. Early in the movie, we learn that growing up a child in The Congo should be "paradise", but instead it's "misery". We witness the misery through the eyes of these three people.

Through the altered voice of a shadowy military figure, director McCabe presents a timeline of the unfortunate history of this region, dating back to King Leopold II "rescuing" the enslaved citizenry from the Arabs ... only to exploit the region's vast rubber mineral supply for his own riches. We also learn about the power struggle for control of The Congo between the U.S. and Russia during the Cold War, and the role neighboring countries Rwanda and Uganda have played in financing the multiple rebel factions (more than 50 and counting). This history lesson drives home the point that for the people of this area, regime changes, political corruption, self-serving involvement of other countries, and rebel uprisings are quite sadly, the way of life. As recently as 2016, President Joseph Kabila canceled the country's election in order to extend his reign of power.

The film is beautifully photographed, and perfectly captures the often stunning landscape between violent bursts of war and personal fright. Mama Romance tells us that "hunger will teach you how to eat", and with that, we understand the risks she takes. Colonel Ndala speaks to his dream of returning to his family farm life if somehow the never-ending war actually ends. Mostly we feel how these folks only experience joy and hope in short spurts. They are a resilient lot and their story deserves to be known, despite our being told "the country belongs to hell".

A raw honest look at mainly 3 vastly different Congolese natives, one anillegal precious stone dealer, two a tailor made to leave home for a refugee camp by the advancing destruction by the M23, and three the most alluring patriotic intelligent brutal fearless man you are to ever see on camera Colonol (kasongo) Mamadou. A Beautifully shot film with Huge Ball shrinking footage of real-time old school warfare. The editing and sound are just superb and set this documentary apart from most Good Storyville productions and any other productions for that matter. A must see with a litereral performance of the a lifetime from Colonel Mamadou. WATCH IT

I saw this documentary at the Helsinki Docpoint Festival and was surprised by its way to captivate. I had very little knowledge of the situation in Congo or its history, and enjoyed this trip through history and today. I also have to commend the people filming while bullets were flying overhead!

Wars are always a racket; they are in the end ALWAYS about the money: the DOUGH! The resources! Everybody knows that.

And to me this documentary worked as a chaotic window to a world/country were a war for resources maims millions of people's lives mentally and physically. To me it was a painting of what human greed does to the ones who are not the culprits of the situations ultimate starting point.

I cannot say that that I would have any idea who is the real good guy and who is the baddest, but that aside, the documentary gives you great atmosphere with just top-notch editing and filming.

9/10

Must see!