Review of Benda Bilili! (2010) by Kristian C — 05 Mar 2011
I'd have been prepared to sacrifice some of this energy and colour for a little more organising context, even if that's exactly the structure the band and their music so delight in rejecting (or simply cannot find in an environment as disorganised as their own).
The filmmaking gets conventional during the final, triumphant departure to Europe - asserting, whether intentionally or not, that SBB's achievements can only be truly validated with the applause of Caucasians.
The best stretches of "Benda Bilili!" show life rolling on regardless: as with the cut from Ricky on tour in snowy Oslo to his young protege Roger, practising his guitar licks back in Kinshasa - an altogether subtler, and more affecting, benchmark of the extent to which this music has come to make a difference.
This review of Benda Bilili! (2010) was written by Kristian C on 05 Mar 2011.
Benda Bilili! has generally received positive reviews.
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