"System K." like Kinshasa. In the midst of indescribable social and political chaos, a bubbling contemporary scene creates out of nothing, cries out in anger and dreams of gratitude.
Despite harassment from the authorities and the personal difficulties of the artists, the movement invades the streets and nothing will stop it!

In the urban jungle of Kinshasa, amid social and political chaos, an eclectic and bubbling street art scene is emerging.

The ‘Satan of Light' is up to his tricks in front of the corrugated iron huts of the dirty markets on the dusty streets of Kinshasa. He has two horns on his head, his face is a grimace and many children fearfully run away at the sight of him. This is where documentary filmmaker Renaud Barret encounters a group of fascinating artists who are creating art on, and for, the street. Known as Freddy, Béni, Kongo Astronaute, Strombo, Majesktik, Kokoko! and Geraldine among others, these people are bringing sculptures, paintings, performances and interventions into public spaces far removed from international attention and the art market. Their materials include old bullet cases, plastic waste, electronic scrap, smoke, monkey skulls, wax, blood, machetes and their own bodies. Their art is spectacular and political. Their topics are exploitation, the privatisation of water, personal and national traumas and also, as a constant, the history of the Congo. In his film, Barret shows us Kinshasa, a metropolis in which art is otherwise considered to be an unaffordable luxury, as the location of a passionate and vibrant subculture that has claimed the city as its stage.

A film by Renaud BARRET

France / Congo DRC, 2019, Documentary, 1h34 min, Lingala / French

Stars: Freddy Tsimba, Géraldine Tobe, Béni Baras

K system
K system VF trailer

Plot keywords: Africa, Street art, performance art, Congo DRC
Genres: Society
Type: Documentary
Runtime: 94 min
Country: France, Congo DRC
Language: Lingala, French
Color: Color
Filming Locations: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Cast
Freddy Tsimba
Béni Baras
Géraldine Tobe

Directed by Renaud Barret
Written by Renaud Barret

Produced by
Renaud Barret... producer
Thierry Commissionat... producer
Benoît Tschieret... producer
Guillaume Vincent... producer

Cinematography by
Renaud Barret

Film Editing by Jules Lahana

Anne-Laure Marie Huet... post-production coordinator
Romain Pourieux... post-production assistant
Géraud Bec... sound editor
Martial de Roffignac... re-recording mixer
Armand Lesecq... audio description mixer
Paul Shemisi... sound

Production Companies
Les films en vrac
Belle Kinoise
Antenne A (in association with)
TV5MONDE (participation)
La Région Île-de-France (support)
Région Grand Est (support)
Brouillon d'Un Rêve de la SCAM (support)
Centre National du Cinéma et de l'Image Animée (support)
Cofiloisirs (production loan)

Distributors
Artification (2020) (United States)
Le Pacte (2020) (France) (theatrical)

French realease: France - 15 January 2020

Award
Berlinale 2019 (Panorama Dokumente): Speciale mention Peace Film
* World premiere
www.berlinale.de/en/archive/jahresarchive/2019/02_programm_2019/02_filmdatenblatt_2019_201918635.html

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DE

Der „Satan des Lichts"treibt vor den Wellblechhütten der dreckigen Märkte auf den staubigen Straßen Kinshasas sein Unwesen. Er hat zwei Hörner auf dem Kopf, sein Gesicht verzieht er zur Grimasse und viele Kinder ergreifen ängstlich die Flucht. Hier begegnet der Dokumentarfilmer Renaud Barret einer Gruppe faszinierender Künstler*innen, die Kunst auf der Straße und für die Straße machen. Sie heißen u. a. Freddy, Béni, Kongo Astronaute, Strombo, Majesktik, Kokoko! und Geraldine und bringen Skulpturen, Bilder, Performances und Interventionen in den öffentlichen Raum, abseits der Weltöffentlichkeit und abseits des Kunstmarkts. Ihre Materialien: alte Patronenhülsen, Plastikmüll, Elektroschrott, Rauch, Affenschädel, Wachs, Blut, Macheten und ihre Körper. Ihre Kunst: spektakulär und politisch. Es geht um Ausbeutung, die Privatisierung von Wasser, persönliche und nationale Traumata und immer auch um die Geschichte des Kongo. Barret zeigt Kinshasa, eine Metropole, in der Kunst als unerschwinglicher Luxus gilt, als Standort einer leidenschaftlichen und vitalen Subkultur, die die Stadt als ihre Bühne begreift.

von Renaud Barret

Frankreich 2019, Dokumentarische Form, 94' · Farbe, Französisch / Lingala

Produzent*innen
Thierry Commissionat, Guillaume Vincent, Benoit Tschieret, Renaud Barret

Regie
Renaud Barret

Buch
Renaud Barret

Kamera
Renaud Barret

Montage
Jules Lahana

Sound Design
Renaud Barret, Paul Shemisi

Ton
Renaud Barret, Paul Shemisi

Produktion
Les Films en Vrac (www.les-films-en-vrac.com)
La Belle Kinoise

Weltvertrieb
Le Pacte
www.le-pacte.com

Berlinale 2019 (Panorama Dokumente): Speciale mention Peace Film
Weltpremiere
www.berlinale.de/de/archiv/jahresarchive/2019/02_programm_2019/02_filmdatenblatt_2019_201918635.html