THE GOVERNOR’S NEW CLOTHES

Democratic Republic of Congo, 2005, 87 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Mweze Dieudonne Ngangura.

Written and directed by one of Congo’s veteran directors, this is a moral tale in the form of a musical and a fable. It is actually an interpretation of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Emperor’s New Clothes. African audiences have enjoyed it. It may not travel so well. However, it is an interesting experiment and allegory.

Tribal conflicts are at the basis of the film, their names plays on words on Serbs and Croats. The seriousness of internecine tribal conflicts is still in audience’s minds remembering Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda. This film has a hero who belongs to one tribe, his wife to another and his son to both. What happens when he becomes President, pressurised by greedly locals who represent multi-national business and is the target of jealous military leaders?

The cast are always moving into song – technically, this is unsatisying as the songs are not smoothly edited into the action. However, the intended audience has appreciated the music (by the famous Papa Wemba) and the message.

1. The Congo film industry? A Congo story – realist, mythical?

2. The adaptation of the fable by Hans Christian Andersen? The tone of realism? The magic realism? As entertainment, as message?

3. The settings, the Congo itself, cities, countryside, the beginning of the 21st century?

4. The musical score, the importance of the songs, the reputation of Papa Wemba and his singing, his lifestyle, his message?

5. The structure of the film, as a musical, as a musical comedy, the visual style, the insertion of the songs and their effect? Creating a myth?

6. Congo, the detail of life, day by day, especially in the city?

7. The issues of the tribes, the Zerbo and the Krowa (and the mythical use of Serbs and Croats)? As exemplified in tribal warfare in Congo?

8. The portrait of the family, the husband and wife representing the two tribes, the child with both tribes in him? The ease of life and the peace between the tribes?

9. The situation, the idyll interrupted? The BIG company, their decision about power, economic progress? The members of the board, their affluent style, clothes? Expectations? Wanting control? Using the tribes and hostility to keep control?

10. The hero, his being chosen to be the president, his accepting? Earnest, his hopes, meeting with the board? His feeling flattered, his change of lifestyle, clothes? His decision about power?

11. Fox and his expectations, wanting to be president, the military, undermining the president, his henchmen, getting information, fomenting tribal hostilities? The thieves and the cloth? The making of the clothes – and the plan for Fox to expose (literally) the ruler?

12. The hero and his wife, son, keeping their tribal background a secret, his love for them, yet his busyness, neglect? Politics, the people applauding him, going to public functions? The sadness of the arrest of his wife, her imprisonment?

13. The president and his rationalising, his vanity, his clothes and wanting to be presentable, his being susceptible to flattery, the thieves, being fitted for the clothes?

14. The public response, his going to the sports stadium wearing only his shorts, the people’s response, acclaim? The boy and his revealing the truth, the emperor with no clothes?

15. The truth, power, integrity, the exploitation of power, tribal warfare? How intense the message?