Patrice Lumumba: Eriq Ebouaney	Joseph Mobutu: Alex Descas
Maurice Mpolo: Theophile Sowie	Joseph Kasavubu: Maka Kotto
Moise Tshombe: Pascal N'Zonzi	Mariam Kaba: Pauline Lumumba
Director/Co-writer: Raoul Peck

30 Second Bottom Line: An unflinching look at the last days of Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the Congo after independence in 1960. He would remain in office for only two months. This is a true story. In French with English subtitles.

Story Line: The film begins with a grim and sinister task, then turns in on itself to reveal what events brought us here. In 1959 Patrice Lumumba (Eriq Ebouaney) was a young, militant leader of the Congolese National Movement (MNC), in what was then known as the Belgian Congo. Impatient with the government's slow march to independence (they offered a five year plan) and its aggressive repression, students and others demonstrated in Stanleyville. Police and troops intervened and 30 people were killed. Lumumba was arrested and charged with inciting to riot.

Tortured and beaten while in prison, Lumumba was released in January 1960 to attend a Round Table Conference in Brussels to hammer out differences between the Congolese and the Belgians regarding the timetable for the Congo's independence. The date agreed upon for independence was June 30, 1960. Lumumba's MNC party emerged as the winner in the May elections and Lumumba was the leading nationalist politician.

It was agreed, however, that the more conciliatory Joseph Kasavubu (Maka Kotto), leader of the Abako party, would assume the presidency and Lumumba would serve as Prime Minister and Minister of Defense. Lumumba's fiery speech at the swearing in ceremonies left no doubt that Congolese independence was due strictly to the desire and perseverance of free-minded citizens, ready to govern themselves, and not due to the benevolence of the white Belgians relinquishing control.

Soon after the celebrations of freedom from Belgian rule, rebellion broke out among the army. The white officers were still in charge (and still treating black soldiers the same) and few blacks were in positions of authority. One of those in control…Joseph Mobutu (Alex Descas), who was appointed Secretary of State for National Defense by the newly formed regime. He began leveraging his influence in the power struggle between Kasavubu and Lumumba, a duplicitous role.

Meanwhile, an embittered Moise Tshombe (Pascal N'Zonzi), President of the mineral-rich province of Katanga, used the confusion of the mutiny to declare Katanga independent. A secessionist move spurred by the rejection of his ideas by Lumumba.

Forces are poised against Lumumba, ready to strike. The hammer started to fall, quickly. Lumumba was ousted by Kasavubu yet both claimed leadership of the legal government. Appeals were made by various contingencies for support from the UN, the Soviet Union Belgium and the United States. Amidst all this political chaos Lumumba was undergoing a personal tragedy as well.

An alliance between Kasavubu and Mobutu resulted in Lumumba being jailed in late 1960. He and two allies and friends were beaten and tortured. On January 17, 1961, under the guise of transporting them, Patrice Lumumba, Maurice Mpolo (Theophile Sowie) and Joseph Okito (Cheik Doukoure) were brutally assassinated.

Tell Me More About It: The ghosts of several fallen leaders echo through this film. Ebouaney's portrayal of Lumumba is powerful… reminiscent of Denzel Washington's Malcolm X. Each exhibits the same intensity of spirit and passion in their performances.

Director Raoul Peck explains his own passion for wanting to bring this story to the screen. "This film is not an `adaptation,' it aims to be a true story. I want to extract the cinematic narrative from the reality by remaining as true to the facts as possible." Peck, Haitian born, lived in the Congo as a youngster, when his father went there to teach. Lumumba has captured what Peck wanted, as director and co-writer (with Pascal Bonitzer), along with the earthy photography of Bernard Lutic, it delivers a jolt to the memory for those of us who were "of age" during that era. For you "youngsters" out there it's worth reliving the experience through this film.

Alex Descas gives a chilling performance as Joseph Mobutu. Pascal N'Zonzi's portrayal of despot Moise Tshombe gets to his heart of darkness. Maka Kotto as Joseph Kasavubu lets us see a politician surviving. And Mariam Kaba brings warmth and concern (and a lovely face) to the role of Pauline Lumumba.

Lumumba is the story of a man of strength and character, determined to lead his people in the pursuit of freedom. According to Peck it is "…an incredible thriller…."

Eriq Ebouaney: Une Famille Tres Ordinaire	Alex Descas: Trouble Everyday