Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat, directed by Johan Grimonprez, is a daring and complex documentary that explores the use of jazz music as a tool of U.S. diplomacy during the Cold War, while also unveiling the dark, clandestine operations aimed at destabilizing the Congo. Premiering at Sundance and earning the World Cinema Documentary Special Jury Award for Cinematic Innovation, this film stands out for its intricate storytelling, blending historical footage, political analysis, and a powerful jazz soundtrack. It’s a film that not only educates but also captivates, making the audience rethink the connections between culture and politics.Beginning with the 1965 seizure of the Suez Canal by Egypt’s leader Gamal Abdel Nasser, Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat traces the ripple effects of this event leading to the tragic murder of Patrice Lumumba, Congo’s first democratically elected leader. The film weaves the story of his assassination with the global chess game of the Cold War and the ongoing process of decolonization. Grimonprez contrasts Lumumba’s fate with the seemingly unrelated yet symbolically potent U.S. State Department-sponsored jazz tours by Louis Armstrong and other prominent musicians. These “Jazz Ambassadors” were unknowingly used as a smokescreen for covert CIA operations in Africa. In a striking moment, Grimonprez reveals that during his 1960 tour of Leopoldville, Louis Armstrong dined with Larry Devlin, the head of the CIA in the Congo—completely unaware of the agency’s involvement in the political turmoil around him.Editor Rik Chaubet and sound designer Ranko Pauković work in tandem to create a masterpiece of visual and auditory synchronization, achieving a rhythmic flow that mirrors the improvisational nature of jazz itself. Skillful cuts featuring jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, and Duke Ellington, together with archival footage and contemporary interviews weave a story that is both haunting and enlightening, drawing viewers into a world where music, politics, and history collide in unexpected ways. This documentary is a dynamic, thought-provoking exploration of the intersections of art and power.Nicole Guillemet