Makes up for its lack of informational depth with stirring poignancy.
Comment
06/07/08
On the Rumba River (2008)
83 %
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 12
Fresh: 10
Rotten:2
Average Rating: 6.8/10
Theatrical Release: Jun 6, 2008 Limited
Synopsis: Traveling up and down the majestic river Congo river on a disheveled boat, the young orphan Antoine Kolosoy composed his first songs on a beat up old guitar. As he gained renown, the young “Wendo,” as he was now known, was persecuted by the... [More]
DVD Info
Reviews for On the Rumba River
1 - 12 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Like The Buena Vista Social Club, to which it has been compared, the film's great strength is its performance footage.
06/06/08
Mostly On The Rumba River works best when it sticks to the musical performances, which Sarin films in lengthy scenes built from extreme close-ups of lips, fingers and sweaty skin.
06/06/08
Delightful music alternates with too-brief interviews with Wendo and his colleagues. On the Rumba River cries out for narration to help viewers understand the tragic context of his life.
06/06/08
You don’t have to be a fan of African tunes to appreciate Jacques Sarasin’s heartfelt ode to Congolese music and its resilient practitioners.
06/06/08
Top Critic An introduction to singer/songwriter Papa Wendo Kolosoy that leaves us feeling like he’s an acquaintance we’d like to meet properly.
06/06/08
Jacques Sarasin's documentary about the legendary Congolese singer Wendo Kolosoy is a big, mellow jam of a film--a must-see for world-music fans.
06/06/08
On the Rumba River illuminates a culture's means of political response via communal expression through music.
06/05/08
Director Jacques Sarasin’s refusal to supply more than scraps of context -- either about the performers or the politics of the civil-war–torn region -- renders the film narratively limp.
06/05/08
Totally winning documentary that can best be described as the Congolese version of "Buena Vista Social Club". A loving portrait of the reemergence of an 83 year old master musician.
05/23/08
1 - 12 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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