''Finding Fela'' is a 2014 documentary film by Oscar-winning director
Alex Gibney
Philip Alexander Gibney (; born October 23, 1953) is an American documentary film director and producer. In 2010, ''Esquire'' magazine said Gibney "is becoming the most important documentarian of our time".
Gibney's works as director include '' ...
, portraying and analysing the life of pioneering musician
Fela Kuti
Fela Aníkúlápó Kuti (born Olufela Olusegun Oludotun Ransome-Kuti; 15 October 1938 – 2 August 1997), also known as Abami Eda, was a Nigerian musician, bandleader, composer, political activist, and Pan-Africanist. He is regarded as the p ...
. The film had its world premiere at the
2014 Sundance Film Festival
The 2014 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 16, 2014 until January 26, 2014 in Park City, Utah, United States, with screenings in Salt Lake City, Ogden, and Sundance Resort in Utah. The festival opened with ''Whiplash'' directed by Da ...
on January 17, 2014.
Synopsis
A look at the life and music of Nigerian singer Fela Kuti, interwoven with extended scenes of the development of the New York musical ''
Fela!
''Fela!'' is a jukebox musical with a book by Bill T. 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. It is base ...
'' and interviews with its director
Bill T. Jones.
Reception
''Finding Fela'' received mixed reviews from critics. Geoffrey Berkshire of ''
Variety
Variety may refer to:
Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats
* Variety (radio)
* Variety show, in theater and television
Films
* ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont
* ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...
'', said in his review: "This watchable but rather rote chronicle fails to find a compelling perspective on Kuti's significant life and legacy." David Rooney of ''
The Hollywood Reporter
''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...
'' praised the film by describing it as "An absorbing if not quite definitive patchwork of the life and legacy of an unorthodox artist."
Extracts from the film featured in the 2015
British Library
The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and is one of the largest libraries in the world. It is estimated to contain between 170 and 200 million items from many countries. As a legal deposit library, the British ...
exhibition ''
West Africa: Word, Symbol, Song''.
"West Africa: Word, Symbol, Song"
Sound and vision blog, British Library, 26 October 2015.
See also
*List of films at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival
The following is a list of all films shown at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.
Feature competition
The following films were shown in competition at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival.
U.S. Documentary
The following 16 films were selected for a wor ...
References
External links
*
*
Official website
Documentary films about African music
2014 films
2014 documentary films
Films directed by Alex Gibney
Nigerian music
Documentary films about Nigeria
Documentary films about jazz music and musicians
Fela Kuti
2010s English-language films
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