Finding Fela
Directed by Alex Gibney
Paul McCartney
Femi Kuti
Fela Kuti
Finding Fela tells the story of Fela Anikulapo Kuti's life, his music, his social and political importance. 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. His influence helped bring a change towards democracy in Nigeria and promoted Pan Africanist politics to the world. 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 freedom. Directed by Academy Award winning filmmaker Alex Gibney (Taxi To The Dark Side).
Educational Reviews
"Finding Fela marks new, exciting terrain for workaholic documentarian Alex Gibney...Gibney is a master of the documentary essay and Finding Fela, in a scholarly sense, essentially amounts to a critical biography, with factual, historical precedent as the film's anchor, but enough subjective, sometimes clashing perspectives to generate a provocative sense of outrage and urgency. ...a consistently understated, but deeply engaged inquiry." SLANT MAGAZINE 3 out of 4 star review by Clayton Dillard
Awards
Official Selection Sundance Film Festival
