“Soundtrack to a Coup d’État” (2024) Amazon, Apple, Fandango
This Oscar nominated documentary is a distressing and eye-opening account of the direct involvement of the United States government and in particular, Eisenhower’s major role in the demolishment and ultimate assassination of Patrice Lumumba, prime minister of the newly formed Republic of Congo. The “soundtrack” in the title refers to the jazz performance clips throughout the film, featuring jazz luminaries of the 1960’s such as Louis Armstrong, Nina Simone, and Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln who protested by disrupting a United Nations meeting in 1961. Jazz musicians (unwittingly) had been used as CIA coverups–“Trojan Horses”–essentially to divert attention from a coup orchestrated by our government. The terrible irony of this is highlighted by footage of civil rights abuses and brutality happening here at the same time. It is a riveting film that I highly recommend, but it’s not a diversion from the atrocities we are witnessing currently–simply more evidence of plus ça change.
“Pee Wee as Himself” (2025) Max, Fandango
Another unusual and powerful film, it documents with interviews and original footage Paul Reubens’ trajectory to becoming Pee Wee Herman and all its accompanying triumphs and tragedies. A truly gifted performer, he was inspirational in his over the top but truly fabulous creations. Pee Wee’s work was ostensibly targeted for children, but adults (at least this adult) found him funny and in many ways profound. But the film, of course, is much more than that. Director Matt Wolf interviews and interacts with an off and on again reluctant Reubens (aka Rubenfeld) who died shortly after the making of the movie.
New York Cynic 