Synopsis
"People don't know that there are also African beats in Beethoven." This unusual statement comes from one of the members of the Kimanguiste Symphony Orchestra, an amateur orchestra in the Congolese capital of Kinshasa. On the eve of a big open-air concert, this documentary follows members of the orchestra and the accompanying chorus. They talk about their love for "serious" music, their struggle with hard times in Congo, power failures, crime, housing problems, and life with no money. There are anecdotes about the instruments, which all disappeared during the lootings and are now made by the musicians themselves. Along these lines, they found the ideal metal for a bell (in D) in the rim of a minivan. In addition to interviews, we see footage of the rehearsals, the construction of a double bass from massive pieces of wood, and the daily life of various musicians, who are multitalented without exception and extremely inventive because of the circumstances in which they live. Between the lines, we also learn about the history of this fledgling independent nation and see how shaky it still is. The highlight is of course the giant open-air concert, including the overwhelming "O Fortuna" from the Carmina Burana.