4 Dec 2011
Director: Renaud Barrett & Florent de La Tullaye
DRC
2010
86 min
The poverty-stricken, often disabled, men and boys that make up Staff Benda Bilili show a resilience and strength of character that wouldn’t be out of place in a WW2 action film, except that this is a documentary and these irresistibly endearing people are musicians rather than soldiers. This happy and joyous musical follows the band of friends on a journey from the streets (literally) of Kinshasa to luxurious European hotels as their raw, energetic music finds a wider audience thanks to the film-makers themselves funding a demo CD on the band’s behalf. Director Barrett has created a genuinely inspiring record of a remarkable true story.