Finding Fela

Directed by Alex Gibney

Starring Fela Kuti and Carlos Moore

Fela Anikulapo Kuti created the musical movement Afrobeat and used it as a political forum to oppose the Nigerian dictatorship and advocate for the rights of oppressed people. This is the story of his life, music, and political importance.

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  • ★★★★ review by Juan Bacaro on Letterboxd

    [Festival Cine Migrante, en BsAs]

    Otro gran documental de Alex Gibney. Tal vez no tan impecable como sus otras investigaciones, pero si lo suficientemente exhaustivo para delinear al incorregible e intuitivamente talentoso Fela Kuti, y de esta forma enseñarnos los inicios del llamado "afrobeat".

    El show tributo que se realizó en Broadway sirve de columna vertebral para contar esta bio. Mi imaginación me dicta que, a lo mejor, no hay demasiado footage original de este músico tan underground como para recomponer su historia solamente usando material archivado. Siendo o no así, se hace evidente que el homenaje mainstream le ha funcionado como muleta a toda la narración.

    En todo caso, el documental recopila imágenes sorprendentes. También, anécdotas destacadas, como la de sus 27 esposas o la del fraudulento mago "Professor Hindu". Incluso, hasta habla el diseñador que ilustró casi todas las portadas de sus LP.

    Hubiese sido simpático saber la opinión de músicos como Rubén Blades, los Rage against the machine, Santana o hasta los Mars Volta.

  • ★★★★ review by Skubic on Letterboxd

    What an incredibly complicated individual. I have loved Fela's music since high school, but this documentary gave me a new perspective on the man.

  • ★★★★ review by Aaron on Letterboxd

    Five stars for the man covered but interspersing with the stage show being put on by people who want to compromise his legacy for the sake of being dramatic. I'd listen to his music in passing but this was eye opening on how massive he was to Africa. An inspiration of spirituality and mythological living, Fela will be regarded as one of the worlds greatest- and goddamn someone should make a movie about the effort to bury his casket! 

    Do yourself a favor and listen to the mans music and get into the groove, this doc is no substitute for tyat

  • ★★★★½ review by last_kokoro on Letterboxd

    La empecé a ver sin ganas pero me sorprendió bastante :)

  • ★★★★★ review by London Storm on Letterboxd

    very long, very worth it

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