Directed by academy awardwinning filmmaker alex gibney taxi to the darkside, the armstrong lie, finding fela is a vibrant, politicallycharged journey in to the life of the beloved, celebrated father of afrobeat, fela kuti. The film had its world premiere at the 2014 sundance film festival on january 17, 2014. Kino lorber has landed all north north american rights to alex gibneys finding fela, the prolific documentarymakers latest film, which had its world premiere at sundance. Namibian premiere presented by africaveinr on saturday. It is based on events in the life of groundbreaking nigerian composer and activist fela anikulapo kuti. The son of first generation immigrants, ismael ahmed is cofounder of the arab american national museum in dearborn and now serves as an executive member of its advisory board.
This indepth look at the man who created afrobeat a fusion of jazz. Finding fela tells the story of fela kutis life, his. Lieds silver screenings film series returns with finding. The full documentary, finding fela, is available on the fela website, along with other documentaries and recorded concerts, cds and vinyl, tee shirts, posters and many other items. He created a new musical movement, afrobeat, a combination of jazz, funk, and nigerian percussion styles. Both documentaries are good though the straightforward one, about the man himself, is rawer and more urgent than the backstage one, which too often feels like an extended ad for the stilltouring musical. In that case, finding fela does a great job of creating a powerful surround experience. Finding fela tells the story of fela anikulapo kutis life, his.
Fela anikulapo kuti used the selfcreated musical movement of afrobeat to express his revolutionary political opinions staging an ideological. His original purpose seems to have been to find his place in the. Finding fela is a vibrant, politicallycharged journey in to the life of the beloved, celebrated father of afrobeat, fela kuti. Finding fela tells the story of fela anikulapo kutis life, his music, his social and political importance. Watch finding fela online vimeo on demand on vimeo. 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. More evidence that fela kuti was a fking genius the. Extracts from the film featured in the 2015 british library exhibition west. Fela anikulapokuti born 1938 in abeokuta, nigeria began his career playing jazz and highlife. Finding fela this latest doc from the alex gibney assembly line fails to find a compelling perspective on its subject. The former star of the affair and fringe talks from home about his new series little fires everywhere, and his powerful costars reese witherspoon and kerry washington. Finding fela is a 2014 documentary film by oscarwinning director alex gibney, portraying and analysing the life of pioneering musician fela kuti.
Fela anikulapo kuti 15 october 1938 2 august 1997, also professionally known as fela kuti, or simply fela, was a nigerian multiinstrumentalist, musician, composer, pioneer of the afrobeat music genre and human rights activist. Lights, camera africa 2015 film synopses the guardian. Alex gibneys finding fela 2014 is a sweeping portrait of the artist as guerilla warrior. He created a new musical movement, afrobeat, using that forum to. All 14 songs featured in finding carter season 2 episode 2. Finding fela does an exemplary job of explaining, in musical terms, what made fela standout, a simple enough step that most music documentaries ignore. The lied center for performing arts silver screenings film series returns feb. And well also point out season 2 of starz original wrong man, also premiering sunday, feb. At the height of his popularity, he was referred to as one of africas most challenging and charismatic music. Jan 31, 2020 and well also point out season 2 of starz original wrong man, also premiering sunday, feb. The fulllength documentary film finding fela, directed by alex gibney, received its premiere at the. Dec 19, 2017 more evidence that fela kuti was a fking genius.
By ese dibebi if you havent seen academy awardwinning director, alex gibneys documentary about afrobeat legend fela anikulapo kutis life and political struggle, finding fela, here it is. The sixepisode docuseries from oscarnominated, emmy. Oct 08, 2014 finding fela tells the story of fela anikulapo kutis life, his music, his social and political importance. Alex gibney the reporters committee for freedom of the press. Overall, ghariokwu designed 26 album covers for kuti, who died on august 2, 1997. Summer is only one season we have far, far more on offer. Though over long, this documentary does its job just fine. The sixepisode docuseries from oscarnominated, emmywinning filmmaker joe berlinger examines. It seems strangely fitting that the final major roles from both philip seymour hoffman in a most wanted man and james gandolfini in this weeks release the drop are portraits of soulcrushing loneliness. Finding fela tells the story of fela kutis life 1938 1997, his music, and his social and political importance.
Sandra izsadore fela was the first countercultural hero on a large scale in subsaharan africa. The search for the phenomenon fela anikulapokuti can start from his legacy, the film black president produced and personally financed by the afrobeat icon himself. Alex gibneys fela kuti doc finding fela has no rhythm posted on july 31, 2014 by metro fela kuti finally gets his own documentary with finding fela. Fela kuti, yeni kuti, femi kuti, seun kuti, bill t. On imdb tv, you can catch hollywood hits and popular tv series at no cost. In the season 2 finale, carter uncovers an unsettling truth following the murder of someone close to her. Winterspring programme 2015 season 67 part 2 fylde film. Fela anikulapo ransomekuti was born in abeokuta, nigeria, in 1938 to a prominent yoruba family. He joined the seahawks as a secondround pick in 2014, playing right tackle as a rookie and left guard in 2015 before finding a permanent home at center in his third season.
Alex gibneys fela kuti doc finding fela has no rhythm prolific documentarian alex gibney takes on afrobeat god fela kuti in finding fela, but fails to capture his unique essence. This event is free and open to the public and is part of the lied centers silver screenings film series, which presents films and events that complement performances in the lieds 2015 16 season. Oct 30, 2014 from academy award winner alex gibney, finding fela takes a look at afrobeat creator fela kuti and how his life and music inspired an entire continent and brought pan africanist politics to the world. Of course the most important aspect of any documentary that deals with music, especially with music as vibrant as fela kutis, is the overall sound quality. He created a new musical movement, afrobeat, using that forum to express his revolutionary political opinions against the dictatorial nigerian government of the 1970s and 1980s. Have you watched the much talked about finding fela. Presented by the lied center for performing arts and the ross media arts center. The drop, dolphin tale 2, the skeleton twins, finding fela. New releases on netflix uk 3rd july whats on netflix. Finding fela a film by alex gibney, official website.
Finding fela fully earns its twohour running time, and could easily have sustained more, such is the wealth of material and music, and such is the brisk momentum maintained by gibney and editor. Alex gibneys finding fela is a very nice documentary that recalls the life and times of nigerian musician, fela kuti. Season 7 of sons of anarchy has been added alongside season 5 of the scifi series warehouse. A look at the life and music of nigerian singer fela kuti. Apr 01, 2020 when he came out as living with hiv in november 2015. Watch finding carter episodes online season 2 2015. From academy award winner alex gibney, finding fela takes a look at afrobeat creator fela kuti and how his life and music inspired an entire continent and. Film reactions as money heist fans expect the season 4 to be released today. Use this music to educate, elevate, and lift ones mind. Domestic box office for winter 2015 box office mojo. Second, there is the inevitable comparison between fela and bob marley, and the question as to why fela never broke big in the us. Netflixs exclusive anime series knights of sidonia has had season 2 added as well as season 5 of white collar. The answer probably lies in the fact that, while felas music surely was infectious, it was rarely digestable into a 3 or 4 min. Femi kuti was born on june 16, 1962 in london, england.
Live tv digital studios cnn films hln tv schedule tv shows az. Additional projects from gibneys extraordinary career include finding fela, the story of. Set to the insistent groove of nigerian superstar fela. Jul 03, 2015 a few big series have been updated this week. Shut up and drive finding carter soundtrack tunefind. As the two parallel tales intertwine and merge, they form a nuanced commentary on the crucial role of art in our global society. He formed his first band in london in 1959 while studying at. Sep 18, 2015 lights, camera africa 2015 film synopses. Oct 31, 2015 ismael ahmed, host, this island earth ismael ahmed is the host of this island earth. Outspoken nigerian musician fela kuti led a vibrant life one that us. Finding fela is the new documentary feature about fela kutis life, his music, his social and political importance. With his audacious music and a great deal of courage, fela kuti helped bring a change towards.
The film series is free, open to the public and designed to complement some of the worldclass performances taking place on the lied center stage as part of the 2015 16 season. Jun 11, 2015 alex gibneys finding fela is a very nice documentary that recalls the life and times of nigerian musician, fela kuti. There are two dtshd tracks that are provided on the bluray, 5. Gibney does a good job of intercutting video footage of the musical artist, alongside interviews with people familiar with him, as well as his admirers. He created a new musical movement, afrobeat, using that forum to express his. The film started, gibney explains, being about taking the play from new york to nigeria, and along the way it became a film about finding fela, it. The power and potency of fela s message is completely current today and is expressed in the political movements of oppressed people, embracing fela s music and message in their struggle for. By using our website and our services, you agree to our use of cookies as described. Alex gibneys finding fela docu acquired by kino lorber. The film barely settles into one groove before its unceremoniously torn out of it. News daily weekend all time international showdowns help. Fela kutis political struggles, musical brilliance and bizarre character were ripe. Finding fela, directed by academy awardwinning director alex gibney taxi to the dark side, tells the remarkable story of fela anikulapo kutis life, his music, and his social and political importance.