Film Lens
Congo Calling is a 2019 documentary directed by Stephan Hilpert that follows three European development aid workers in eastern Congo. The film presents the experiences of Raúl, a French-Spanish economist researching rebel groups; Peter, a German with 30 years of experience in Africa; and Anne-Laure, a Belgian whose Congolese partner becomes a regime critic after imprisonment. Their personal and professional struggles are depicted alongside their interactions with the local culture and politics.
The film raises questions about the effectiveness of Western aid in Africa. It premiered at the Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival in January 2019, where it won the Audience Award for Best Documentary. It has received positive reviews for its nuanced portrayal of development aid and has won multiple awards at various film festivals.
Why Watch
- •Meet Raúl, a French-Spanish economist studying rebel groups.
- •Follow Peter, a German aid worker with 30 years in Africa.
- •See Anne-Laure's story of her imprisoned Congolese partner.
Did You Know
•Congo Calling won the Audience Award for Best Documentary at the Max Ophüls Prize Film Festival in January 2019.
•The film was released theatrically in Germany in August 2019 and in the UK in October 2021.
•Congo Calling was broadcast on German television in November 2019.
•The film was released on DVD and VOD in March 2020.
Perfect For
Development aidCongo's political landscapeEuropean-African relations