By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 2 cats
Director: Cosima Spender | George Amponsah
Country: france, united_kingdom
Year: 2009
Running time: 70
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436422/
Bruce says: “There is enough interesting subject matter in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ELEGANT to make at least two documentaries. As it stands, the film that has been made is sorely lacking in focus and depth. High fashion wars among African expats living in Paris and Brussels is purported to be the big story but the film is more a documentary about Congolese music sensation Papa Wemba than it is about fashion. Papa Wemba began his music career as a samba musician in the Congo. He emigrated from the Congo to France and became a cult figure there as well as in Africa. He has released 50 albums. Generally speaking his songs are socio-political in nature. While he is not as famous as Youssou N’Dour, Papa Wemba’s followers are certainly as ardent.
“Paris and Brussels are the meccas for sapeurs. ‘What are sapeurs,’ you are probably wondering. They are people who worship high fashion and flaunt their wardrobe in public so that they can be anointed with a ‘best dressed’ title. There is no formal structure to this phenomenon, nor is there a specific venue that the sapeurs attend. Papa Wemba is a sapeur as are a character who calls himself ‘The Archbishop” and another who goes by the moniker ‘Anti-Gigolo.’ They shop at all the fashion houses in Paris and flaunt their labels to whoever will look and listen. The ‘to die for’ label at the moment is Cavalli, although Dolce & Gabanna, Armani, Donna Karan, Comme des Garçons or Watanabe will do. These men mix textures and fabrics freely, not to mention a profusion of color that pervades their wardrobes. No one bats an eye at the 8,000€ price tag for a sport jacket. As one Congolese points out, ‘that is half a house back home in Africa.’ The greatest omission of the film is the issue of where the money comes from to buy such outrageously expensive clothing. As one man says of Paris , ‘The black man can only get a job washing dishes or being a security guard.’
“Papa Wemba is recently released from jail at the beginning of the film. He is charged with smuggling illegal immigrants into Europe. He plans a concert and an album to raise money for his legal fees. Much to do is made about what to wear. Papa Wemba’s mentor in Paris is a restauranteur names Mere Malou, a woman of a certain age who reigns as though she were Queen of the Immigrants. She keeps Papa in line to a certain extent, buoys his spirits and offers advice. We do see Papa Wemba’s wife sweeping the patio at his house in one of the Parisian banlieues. She clearly is not a player, never appearing among the entourage that constantly surrounds her husband.
“This documentary suffers from the filmmakers trying to bring together the curious phenomenon of the sapeurs, the plight of African immigrants in Europe, and the fame, charisma and scandal surrounding Papa Wemba. Unfortunately the film doesn’t satisfy on any level. 2 cats
“(THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ELEGANT screened at the 2009 African Film Festival sponsored by The Film Society of Lincoln Center.)”