A tribute to the Congolese people, who despite desperate poverty, a history of oppression and an ongoing civil war that has killed nearly 4 million people, continue to be sustained by music.
Delightful music alternates with too-brief interviews with Wendo and his colleagues. On the Rumba River cries out for narration to help viewers understand the tragic context of his life.
Mostly On The Rumba River works best when it sticks to the musical performances, which Sarin films in lengthy scenes built from extreme close-ups of lips, fingers and sweaty skin.
Director Jacques Sarasin's refusal to supply more than scraps of context -- either about the performers or the politics of the civil-war-torn region -- renders the film narratively limp.
Totally winning documentary that can best be described as the Congolese version of "Buena Vista Social Club". A loving portrait of the reemergence of an 83 year old master musician.
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