Parts of it are stirring because the subject matter is inherently noble. Alex gibneys finding fela 2014 is a sweeping portrait of the artist as guerilla warrior. Finding fela does an exemplary job of explaining, in musical terms, what made fela standout, a simple enough step that most music documentaries ignore. Though over long, this documentary does its job just fine. Bouncing between the vibrant music of jones stage musical and countless live concert performances by fela.
Set to the insistent groove of nigerian superstar fela. Gibney does a good job of intercutting video footage of the musical artist, alongside interviews with people familiar with him, as well as his admirers. Fela kuti wasnt at all worried about contracting hiv in 1997. Its a vivid image, wellaided by the mountains of archival footage gibney has unearthed. Finding fela is available with public performance rights ppr and digital site licensing dsl. Finding fela finding fela tells the story of fela anikulapo kutis life, his music, his social and political importance. Jones and jim lewis, based on music and lyrics by the late nigerian singer fela kuti, with additional music by aaron johnson and jordan mclean and additional lyrics by jim lewis. A look at the life and music of nigerian singer fela kuti.
After the chicago cubs blow an opportunity to reach the world series in 2003, cubs fans blame the teams. Finding fela tells the story of fela kutis life 1938 1997, his music, and his social and political importance. Jones, okwechime abdul official content from kino lorber finding fela tells the story. Of course the movie is a mustsee for musiclovers, in particular jazz fans. Alex gibney was born on october 23, 1953 in new york city, new york, usa as philip alexander gibney. The power and potency of fela s message is completely current today and is expressed in the political movements of oppressed people, embracing fela s music and message in their struggle for. He created a new musical movement, afrobeat, using that forum to express his revolutionary political opinions against the dictatorial nigerian government of the 1970s and 1980s. Finding fela is out 1 august in new york and will be released in the uk. From academy award winner alex gibney, finding fela takes a look at afrobeat creator fela kuti and how his life and music inspired an entire continent and brought pan africanist politics to the world. I figured this will not be playing very long, so i went to see it last night, the evening screening where i saw this at was a semiprivate screening as in. News daily weekend all time international showdowns help.
Heres the full list of new netflix dvd releases this week detailed list. As the movie opens, we get archive footage from a 1970s performance, and from there we get a crash course on nigerias history since. On the contrary, those lesions simply meant he was shedding his skin like a snake, becoming ever more powerful. There are many clips and concert fragments to enjoy, even if some of them are a little less sharp due to the age of the footage, which sometimes looks like. In 2010, esquire magazine said gibney is becoming the most important documentarian of our time. Rent finding fela 2014 starring fela kuti and yeni kuti on dvd and bluray. Second, there is the inevitable comparison between fela and bob marley, and the question as to why fela never broke big in the us.
It is based on events in the life of groundbreaking nigerian composer and activist fela anikulapo kuti. He created a new musical movement, afrobeat, a combination of jazz, funk, and nigerian percussion styles. The film had its world premiere at the 2014 sundance film festival on january 17, 2014. Watch finding fela online vimeo on demand on vimeo. Finding fela is the story of fela anikulapo kutis life, music, and political. Finding fela fully earns its twohour running time, and could easily have sustained more, such is the wealth of material and music, and such is the brisk momentum maintained by gibney and editor. The series follows the lives of a group of people who are either in long. Finding fela opened this past weekend without any prerelease hype or advertising at my local arthouse theatre here in cincinnati. New releases on netflix uk 3rd july whats on netflix. The full documentary, finding fela, is available on the fela website, along with other documentaries and recorded concerts, cds and vinyl, tee shirts, posters and many other items. The film series is free, open to the public and designed to complement some of the worldclass performances taking place on the lied center stage as part of the 2015 16 season.
Fela anikulapokuti created a new musical movement, afrobeat, a combination of jazz, funk, and nigerian percussion styles. Director 49 house of saud tv movie documentary the innocence files. The lied center for performing arts silver screenings film series returns feb. Finding fela, directed by academy awardwinning director alex gibney taxi to the dark side, tells the remarkable story of fela anikulapo kutis life, his music, and his social and political importance. The search for the phenomenon fela anikulapokuti can start from his legacy, the film black president produced and personally financed by the afrobeat icon himself. Finding fela, by alex gibney, is quite an ordinary documentary that portrays an extraordinary man and his story. Fela kuti, yeni kuti, femi kuti, seun kuti, bill t. The walking dead the complete sixth season 6 series six box set dvd region 4.
Alex gibney celebrity profile check out the latest alex gibney photo gallery, biography, pics, pictures, interviews, news, forums and blogs at rotten tomatoes. Fela kutis political struggles, musical brilliance and bizarre character were. Soccer stories tv series 2014 1 episode finding fela. Finding fela is a 2014 documentary film by oscarwinning director alex gibney, portraying and analysing the life of pioneering musician fela kuti. Rent finding fela 2014 on dvd and bluray dvd netflix.
It was also a political force, a propulsive delivery system of fela s revolutionary ideas, pitched against the dictatorial nigerian government of the 1970s and 1980s. The group a documentary 2015 this organization, while claiming to have rescued thousands of teens from the horrors of drug addiction, has been repeatedly accused of using cultlike practices to control. It portrays kuti in the days when he was the target of 1,000 government. This indepth look at the man who created afrobeat a fusion of jazz. His influence helped bring a change towards democracy in nigeria. Alex gibneys finding fela is a very nice documentary that recalls the life and times of nigerian musician, fela kuti. Finding fela documentarian alex gibneys finding fela, about the legendary african pop star and political activist, feels like a rough draft for a very good movie. Interested in bringing finding fela to your school, nonprofit organization or library. Finding fela talks to the mans former bandmates, a number of lifelong friends, his various wives and mistresses, several of his childrenall in an attempt to get a handle on who he was.
Finding fela tells the story of fela anikulapo kutis life, his. Its a movie that is more about the making of the broadway. Finding fela a film by alex gibney, official website. The maze runner, this is where i leave you, honeymoon, wetlands, bad turn worse, bird people, jimi. He created a new musical movement, afrobeat, using that forum to express his. Finding fela 2014 afrobeat pioneer and revolutionary, fela kuti.
The oscar nominated actor ethan hawke explores the life and lessons of piano teacher seymour bernstein in the big screen documentary seymour an introd. If youd like to have an inclass viewing, oncampus screening, or group screening or to purchase the dvd for your librarys collection, please contact jeff tamblyn or call 212 6296880 with your request. Finding fela is the new documentary feature about fela kutis life, his music, his social and political importance. Before watching finding fela, had you listened to much of fela kutis music. If not, would you like to travel there after having seen the film. Finding fela 2014 afrobeat pioneer and revolutionary. With his audacious music and a great deal of courage, fela kuti. The answer probably lies in the fact that, while felas music surely was infectious, it was rarely digestable into a 3 or 4 min. Scientology and the prison of belief winner of three emmys in 2015, we steal.
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