The Importance of Being Elegant

The Importance of Being Elegant (2004)


  • Genre: Documentary
  • Release Date: 2004-08-14
  • Runtime: 1h 10min
  • Language: Français
  • Production Company: October Films
  • Production Country: United Kingdom
  • Directors: Cosima Spender, George Amponsah.

Summary

Set to the soundtrack of Papa Wemba's extraordinary music, this outrageous, funny and eye-opening film depicts the underground world of a flamboyant African cult. Papa Wemba is a well-known Congolese singer. He is also a big cheese in Le Sape, the Société des Ambianceurs et Persons Élégants, which translated into English means a society of people who spend huge amounts of money on designer clothes with the motive of making themselves as conspicuously elegant as possible. The film is a splendid evocation of Papa Wemba's music, but it is also an unusual insight into what it means to be an immigrant in contemporary Europe. The sapeur have borrowed from our own culture, creating something rich and strange and wholly Congolese. Don't miss the scene where they try on fur coats.

The Importance of Being Elegant Trailer

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  • Papa Wemba

    as Self
  • Anti-Gigolo

    as Self
  • Archibishop of La Sape

    as Self
  • Mere Malou

    as Self
  • Minister of the Budget

    as Self
  • Minister of the Attack

    as Self
  • Poison

    as Papa Wemba's bodyguard
Production Laurent Bocahut Executive Producer
Directing Cosima Spender Director
Production Askia Traoré Line Producer
Editing Valerio Bonelli Editor
Directing George Amponsah Director
Production Tom Roberts Executive Producer
Production George Amponsah Producer
Crew Éric Turpin Cinematography
Sound Philippe Ciompi Supervising Sound Editor

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