Search - Congo: White King, Red Rubber, Black Death on DVD

Well researched, excellenty told story of an ongoing tragedy

A. O. Edozie | Lagos, Nigeria | 03/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A superbly told and excellently researched documentary on the genocide perpetrated against the Congolese people by King Leopold II of Belgium, and covered up and perpetuated by the Belgian State.

This moving documentary tells in a microcosm the story of modern Africa - which can only be truly understood by looking at each country - and exposes the roots of its current pains.

If the United States thrives because it was built on the principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; it can be no accident that a country founded on the undescribable principles instituted by King Leopald II and perpetuated by the Belgian State, remains steeped in violence, poverty and human deprivity.

Afam Edozie"

A dishonest film that betrays its moral purpose

Lea W. Fridman | New York | 11/07/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"I watched this film one evening after spending the day reading Hochschild's "King Leopold's Ghost." I was reading quite slowly and underlining in order to absorb the information since I am planning a trip up the Congo river. As I watched the film I recognized one quoted passage after another (archival quotes) which I had read in Hochschild only a few hours before. The numbers of quotes that I recognized were quite extraordinary. I waited for the credits fully expecting to see Hochschild's name, but it was not there! Someone wanted me and you and everyone else to think that they had studied the archives and struggled to made judicious choices of quoted materials (a gigantic job). Someone didn't want me or anyone else to know that Hochschild had done their homework for them.
It is particularly galling, in a film that purports to have a moral core, to find that the team making the film stole Hochschild's work from him and misled their audience in the credits. And in a film about Leopold's theivery, misuse and misrule of the Congo, no less! What would Joseph Conrad have said!!!!"

The two faces of Leopold II of Belgium

Augustine Invictus | Rochester Hills, Michigan United States | 08/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This documentary is very interesting and also revolting in the sense that it exposes the 2 sides( good and evil) of a European sovereign, King Leopold II of Belgium. The good side which many people may find hard to accept is that he did raise the level of an unknown primitive Congo into an exotic Belgian colonial state with its remarkable geography and wildlife which was evidently an explorer's dream. But perhaps his most significant deed was his exploitation of its natural resources to contribute fuel to the ongoing outside world's Industrial Revolution.With all due respect to his Majesty,he could be dubbed a benefactor by some,although with a Jekyl and Hyde personality. And at what cost to the Congo and its indigenous inhabitants? Revolting!...which exposes his bad side that greatly overshadows the good.Wanton slavery,burning and devastation of villages,torture,murder of human beings, mutilation and amputation of limbs! Could it be that this revolting practice of amputation was started by Leopold II in a gigantic scale in the Congo so that the idea was passed on to the rest of Africa to be implemented in its subsequent post colonial civil wars? As one reviewer from Lagos,Nigeria puts it plainly: This historical documentary about the Congo's exploitation may serve as an aid to understand modern Africa by "looking at each country and exposing the roots of its pains." I highly recommend watching and studying this interesting DVD."

One word...Excellent!

T. Edukonis | Buffalo, NY | 01/09/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Awesome documentary. Goes hand in hand with the book King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild."