How Long Is “Kinshasa Symphony”?

Kinshasa is the capitol city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It's one of the largest cities on the African continent, and also one of the poorest; it's home to nearly ten million people, and a place where poverty, overcrowding and shortages of nearly everything are facts of daily life. However, despite all this Kinshasa is also home to a symphony orchestra, the only one in Central Africa; most evenings, conductor Armand Diangienda gets together with his ensemble of nearly two hundred musicians and they rehearse the works of Beethoven, Verdi, Dvorak and other staples of the symphonic canon. Diangienda's musicians rarely have formal training, many have to make do with damaged or makeshift instruments and overall the group has more dedication than practical experience. But the love of music has brought them together, and the members of the symphony are determined to be ready for a special concert to commemorate Independence Day in the Congo. Filmmakers Claus Wischmann and Martin Baer offer an insightful look at life in the Congo and how Diangienda and his compatriots have come together to make music in the documentary Kinshasa Symphony; the film was an official selection at the 2010 Berlin international Film Festival.