Music documentary and French comedy feature in Weekend Film Series

FRIDAY, FEB. 17: A documentary about African street musicians who become world music stars and a French romantic comedy are the featured films at the Bermuda Docs Weekend Film Series this Sunday, February 19.

Benda Bilili! will screen at 3pm., while Romantics Anonymous will screen at 5:15pm.

The documentary is the inspiring and heartwarming story of a group of street musicians who go from sleeping on cardboard on the streets of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, to performing in Europe’s great concert halls.

Gathering beneath the acacia trees around Kinshasa’s zoo, the group of disabled and able-bodied musicians make up Staff Benda Bilili (in English, “Look Beyond Appearances”). They sing about their lives, creating sounds rooted in African rumba with elements of old school rhythm ‘n blues, funk and reggae.

The film had its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for Best Documentary at the Cesar Awards, France’s national film awards. It screens in French and Lingala with English subtitles.  

Chocolate is a metaphor for love in Romantics Anonymous, a frothy, funny and utterly charming French romantic comedy starring Isabelle Carre (Angelique) and Benoit Poelvoorde (Jean-Rene).

Angelique is a member of therapy group Emotions Anonymous who is trying to overcome an uncontrollable shyness that prevents her from properly sharing her confectionary talents. When the timid Jean-Rene hires Angelique as his chocolate company’s new sales associate, the two nervous Nellies are drawn together by their shared passion for chocolate. This delectable comedy was a hit at the French box office.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased in the Oceans Gift Shop at the BUEI, or by calling 297-7314. Trailers of the films can be viewed at www.bermudadocs.com.

• Bermuda Docs and the BUEI are also presenting the Oscar-nominated short films at the BUEI. The documentary short series screens on Thursday February 23 at 6.30pm, the Live Action shorts screen on Friday February 24 at 6.30pm., and the Animation shorts screen on Sunday February 26 at 3pm.