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Lumumba – La mort du prophète

Raoul Peck
1991 Haiti; Switzerland; Germany 68 minutes French

The filmmaker was only two years old when his family left Haiti in 1962. His father was already in the Congo, where he worked as a V.S.O. teacher. Two years before, Patrice Lumumba had been killed in Katanga. A photograph found by the filmmaker’s mother featuring the Congolese leader is the starting point for a documentary devoted to the prophet of African independence. “What can be said about an assassination that took place 30 years ago ? Lumumba’s message has been lost, but his name has remained !” Raoul Peck explores the mystery of Lumumba’s death through various written and oral testimonies. His documentary is a reflexion upon political assassination.

Production :
RTBF; Sept; Cinemamma; Velvet Film
Editing :
Aïlo Auguste; Eva Schlensag
Sound :
Eric Vaucher; Martin Witz
Photography :
Philippe Ros; Mathias Kälin