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Saturday, June 25, 2011

MOVIE REVIEW
Viva Riva!

Sex, Politics And A Folk Legend On The Run In Kinshasa



Patsha Bay Mukuna as Riva in Djo Munga's crime and politics thriller "Viva Riva!". 
Music Box
 

by
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com        Follow popcornreel on Twitter FOLLOW
Satur
day, June 25, 2011

Meet Riva: charismatic, handsome, a man up to no good, and a hero of sorts in Kinshasa in the Congo.  Years ago, he absconded with a lot of oil.  An opportunist, Riva took advantage, sold what he took, and took off.  For ten years.  He returns to Kinshasa to enjoy what riches he has.  He meets an alluring woman/femme fatale who happens to be involved with a gangster who has ties to an Angolan gangster who is still looking for the missing supplies of oil.

These are the facts and story in Djo (pronounced "Joe") Munga's thrilling drama "Viva Riva!", a sexy, pursuasive film that grows on you by the minute.  "Viva Riva!", which won six African Movie Academy Awards this year, just happens to be the first film to emerge from and be made in the Democratic Republic Of Congo in 25 years, and it's as alluring as the woman who is key to the film's destination.

A procedural thriller is enlivened by the strong work of Patsha Bay Mukuna as Riva.  Both Mr. Mukuna and the character he plays possess immense confidence, never appearing to waver from Riva's daunting mission; to win the lady of his dreams and desires, while standingup to the criminal empire that has pledged (as did the Italian mob in "Kill The Irishman") to eliminate Riva from the face of the earth.

"Viva Riva!" suggests a hero mythology for its protagonist and the film has a lot of fun (even as its intensions are serious), as if exhaling after a quarter-century of silence due to civil war strife.  Mr. Munga, a native of the Congo, has a keen eye for the city of Kinshasa and its outskirts.  I could taste the streets and their atmosphere, so pungent and powerful.  The cinematography is rich, and what we see pulses with heat and electricity.  Shot in HD digital, "Viva Riva!" offers a vibrant, attractive and colorful slice of Kinshasa and its night life.  Part rugged and part ornate in presentation, "Viva Riva!" has an astonishing amount of realism, especially in its heavy violence.

Often "Viva Riva!" is intimate, visceral and erotic, and dives into the Congo's intricate politics and corruption, as a fearless commander investigates the crimes that occur in Kinshasa, while watching her back at the same time.  As superbly acted by Marlene Longange, the Commander is wonderfully complex and intriguing.  All of the actors in Mr. Munga's finely-executed drama leave their unique brand of charm, appeal and humor.  Their presences are indelible and integral to the sense of community but also the intense isolation that "Viva Riva!" depicts.

"Viva Riva!" also examines the sexual politics, mores and peccadilloes of its characters in a refreshingly mature way, without offering gimmick-like barriers to justify or suppress the characters' humanity.  There aren't any real heroes and villains, just opportunists looking to stay alive.  Some will.  Some won't.

But the star of this musty show full of danger, humor and hair-raising action, aside from Kinshasa itself, is Mr. Mukuna.  With the look of a matinee idol, he harnesses unmistakable swagger and appeal as Riva.  At every turn Mr. Mukuna seems to relish the risks that Riva dives headlong into.  One of the year's best films, "Viva Riva!" makes a compelling impression on the big screen, and is unapologetic about what it says about sex, crime and the fabric of Kinshasa.

"Viva Riva!", which sometimes feels like Peckinpah's turbulent dramas, is a film I found myself thinking about a lot after I saw it.  Congolese cinema is in good hands with Mr. Munga, who has re-energized it after its dormant period.  The impressive storytelling and especially good acting make "Viva Riva!" a must-see film.

With: Manie Malone, Hoji Fortuna, Diplome Amekindra, Alex Herabo.

"Viva Riva!" is rated R by the Motion Picture Association Of America for strong sexuality, graphic nudity, brutal violence, language and some drug use.  The film is in the Lingala and French languages, with English subtitles.  The film's running time is one hour and 36 minutes.

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