That was an excellent one.

Lack of good storyline.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Personal choice is sometimes hard to explain, but I have probably watched this film more times over the years than any other (and I've seen a LOT of films). It's certainly not Great Art but it is Great Fun, and it includes some dynamic music from Pepe Kalle and one of the best singers to come out of Congo, if not Africa, Papa Wemba. The story-line is simple - confused identities / poor boy who wants to be rich musician / rich man who wants beautiful girl, who in turn wants the poor man (thinking him to be rich...) etc etc.- but it is told with fluidity and humour, and it offers a great insight to Mobutu's Kinshasa when it was still a functioning and vibrant city. The film is African to the core (despite being co-directed by a Belgian), but its story and humour are universal. Years after initially seeing La Vie Est Belle, I went to live in Kinshasa and one of the first things I did was to seek out the identifiable landmarks shown therein (OK - so there isn't much to do in Kinshasa....). Pride was place was my actually eating in the (now almost derelict) restaurant where Papa Wemba takes Kabibi for a meal - called Lola La Crevette in the Kinshasa suburb of MaCompagne (also now largely derelict). Is the film really worth the 9 out of 10 I have awarded it??? Given the number of times I have watched it with immense pleasure I would say yes, but I imagine 99% of mankind might say no.....

The average Western viewer will probably not get much out of this film. Given that in general we tend to have the attention-spans of gnats and like a lot of action in our films, La Vie est belle is a pretty forgettable film. BUT, it is an important film for a couple reason. First, teens could benefit from learning about African life and customs, so it can be recommended on that level. Also, for those who like international cinema, you'll probably have a higher tolerance for its lower production values and mundane nature of the plot--you don't need explosions and big-name actors to get you to watch a film. And, in either of these instances, the film will satisfy. It is a cute little movie about a man who wants to get married to wife #2 (while still married to wife #1--a custom that is not unheard of in many societies). Unfortunately, his poor ex-servant also wants this lady and does what he can to steal her from the rich man. Well, despite all this, in the end everyone seems pretty happy and the music ends. The film is lively, features a lot of modern tribally influenced music and an unusual plot.

A simple tale, and a well-rehearsed one perhaps. A young man from the country travels to the 'big city' and tries out his luck making music.It's lively, colourful, constantly moving and musically enjoyable. The characters tend to border on caricatures (clearly deliberately so), and the overwhelming cheerfulness and optimism of the movie makes for an enjoyable time.It's not the ideal choice for anyone looking for a profound and revealing account of life in Zaire, it's much too frivolous for that. On the other hand it does provide a revealing sketch of street-life in Kinshasa which viewers from outside Africa may appreciate.

This film is memorable only because you get a chance to see firsthand what the Congo (then Zaire) really looks like. Also, the music is passable. Otherwise, the story is hard to follow, the characters are easy to confuse, and the outcome is ultimately very predictable. But I'm not sorry I saw it, largely because of its documentary-like realism.