Some see him as a madman, others as a genius. Sharp-eyed, nimble-fingered, polio-crippled Emmanuel Botalatala is Kinshasa's Minister of Garbage. The position is however unofficial; it is merely a stage name. As the Congo heads towards critical and uncertain elections, the Minister has a "destiny".
In the capital city's working-class districts, he creates three-dimensional artworks with the waste vomited day after day by Kinshasa. Through those, he puts forth a reflection on his country's and Africa's evolution. At 64 years of age, he finds himself at a turning point. Entering the last portion of his life completely penniless,
Entering the last portion of his life completely penniless, he dreams of creating a cultural centre to host his rain-corroded work, train tomorrow's Ministers of Garbage and leave a trace of his existence behind.
Richi, his multitask apprentice; Eric, an artist in the making and baker in the evening; Romain, his head of cabinet; and Marguerite, his second wife, will help him achieve his destiny in a city where everyday life is about getting by and surviving. Through the Minister's work method and unique and stubborn route, the film addresses the role the artist and his vision can play in a country searching for itself.
A film by Quentin NOIRFALISSE
Belgium, 2017, documentary, 1h15′, Portrait, HD - 2.35, Stereo & LCR, French & Lingala with subs in FR - EN - NL
starring Emmanuel Botalatala
Length : 75′
Format : HD - 2.35
Sound : Stereo
Language : French & Lingala
Subtitles : French - English - Dutch
Director's presentationArt is man's constant effort to create for himself a different order of reality from that which is given to him, wrote the Nigerian writer Chinua Achebe.
In 2009 and 2012, I worked in South Kivu in a fragile yet fascinating journalistic project. Soon after I came back, I discovered by chance, on the Internet, an amazing piece of art from a man who's following the track of Achebe's word. It was in three dimensions, with this title: "Pilgrimage to an hypothetical rule of law."
On it, an Africa-shaped man was walking towards this Rule of law that many countries are still looking for. The piece of art was signed Botalalata. I got in touch with this man, who is also called the Minister of Garbage. He was born in the rainforest, worked in a bank before dedicating his life to develop his own kind of art. He told me : Come to Kinshasa.
Three years later, there is this film, about the daily life-course of an artist who attempts to save his works from the rain and dust. A life-course of a man who thinks about the destiny of his country, when nobody exactly knows when the elections will take place. Botalatala shares many concerns with his fellow Congolese.
He creates thanks to his disgust for war, his will to see the first peaceful transition of power in his country, his criticism of the dangerous ambitions of Men and the looting of his country.
His art comes from the dozens of tons of garbage vomited every day by Kinshasa, also dubbed Kin-Poubelle (Kin-Dustbin). Botalatala recycles this garbage, give it a new life in its pieces and face many obstacles in his work.
As he's now 65, Botalatala wants to leave his footprint and train the next Ministers of Garbage. During three years, we followed him, learned his language, in an immersion in his city and daily life in Kinshasa popular neighborhoods. In the intimacy of the "parcelles" (houses), we discover the pursuit of a life with a meaning carried out by the people who help the Minister accomplish his destiny.
Richi, the "multitasking" apprentice, Eric, artist during the day, baker at night, Romain, a very ethical teacher who's also Botalatala's cabinet director and, last but not least, Marguerite, his patient and dedicated wife, give shape to this documentary.
Quentin NoirfalisseWritten and Directed by
QUENTIN NOIRFALISSE
Director of photography
ADRIEN KAEMPF & QUENTIN DEVILLERS
Sound
NICOLAS KERJAN
Editing
MARIE ESTELLE DIETERLE Sound editing and Mix THOMAS ROCHE
Music
PIERRE MONONGI MOPIA & DANIEL "DIDAN" DIBWIDI
Assistant director (1st shooting)
MARCO ZAGAGLIA
Production assistants
LUCIEN BISIMWA & JEAN-PIERRE KABEYA & ANTOINE SANCHEZ
Producers
MAXIMILIEN CHARLIER & LAETITIA RODARI
Production
DANCING DOG PRODUCTIONS & AMC2 PRODUCTIONS
DiffusionAvant-première @ cinéma Vendôme: 06/06. More info to come.
Broadcast: RTBF (Arte Belgique): 18/06
If you are interested to have a screening (with the director) close to you, please do not hesitate to contact us.
For institutional and school screenings, please contact Séverine Konder :
severine.bahvoyons@gmail.com - +32 (0) 485 21 73 27
And for the press and events, contact Anne Kennes :
anne.bahvoyons@gmail.com -+32 (0) 486 24 34 00
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