Viva Riva! (2011)

I like the storyline of this show,it attract me so much

Did you people see the same film I saw?

Excellent characters with emotional depth. My wife, daughter and granddaughter all enjoyed it...and me, too! Very good movie! You won't be disappointed.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Djo Munga has made a magnificent movie on a shoestring in Kinshasa. All hail to him! His hero, Riva of the title (Patsha Bay) is a daring, foolhardy type like all heroes, and he has no fear at all of stealing from gangster Azor (Diplome Amekindra) his gorgeous girl-friend, Nora, played by the ravishing Manie Malone. He has one more truckload of fuel in a city having a fuel crisis. Cesar (Hoji Fortuna) is also after it, as are several others, including a lady military officer (La Commandante: Marlene Longange). Even Riva's parents get a look-in. Everybody appears sooner or later in this wonderful picture. The great thing is that when somebody swings a punch, someone falls, hurt. And, by the same token, when somebody shoots a gun, people fall, but they do get up again in many cases. These are real people involved in a fiction film. It's a great work of art and I strongly recommend it.

While this movie might not stand out as an original, the story of decay, corruption and lust for Africa's resources is well told. I have tried to look for biographies on the actors with little success. If the movie was made with virtual unknowns I am doubly impressed.The plot moves well with good screen chemistry for the actors. The sex scenes are among the best I've seen anywhere and the joy Riva brings to the screen and those he interacts with is refreshing.There is the ultimate feeling of Grecian tragedy. You know deep down things won't end well. His death at the end is one of the most heroic and carefree ways of going I've yet seen.The movie showcases the best of Africa (unbridled enthusiasm and live-a-day-at-a-time philosophy) alongside the worst (lust for power and resources, invasive western influence, etc)It's a wonderful movie in my opinion. I would have awarded it more than a seven but for the originality bit. It's stereotypical but the tale is well told. Kudos to this Director.

I haven't watched too many African films, and I don't mean to just lump them in with foreign films, but I love how this movie didn't try to dub in English or anything like that which would ruin the movie for me. The french dialect was cool to listen too, the subtitles made perfect sense and were easy to read. With that consideration handled so well the movie is free to shine on its own right. As I'm sure that others have said this movie does have intense violence and sexual scenes that may not be for your mother, but I don't want you to get the impression that the movie is all about debauchery and violence. There's also themes of strong family loyalty, and what leverage these loyalties can provide to an enterprising bad guy. Honestly the setting strikes close to home, with the gas shortage and skyrocketing prices, times are desperate and people feel pushed to live life to the fullest. Without this setting I don't think the movie could have take these characters to such an amazing place on screen.

I caught a small screening of this film and couldn't take my eyes from the screen until the final credits rolled. A 'neighborhood kid' returning to his hometown brings some baggage back with him. Filmed on location in Kinshasa, this film makes you say 'Did they really just do that?' over and over. Riva may not be the best guy, but his attitude about life makes me respect him. Overall, I would call it a gangster flick set in the Congo with greed, corrupt government officials, and a dash of romance. You can also expect the usual twisting plot with plenty of action, sex, and alcohol. Nothing is left to the imagination. If it happens in the story, you get to see it.. all of it.