Leofwine_draca
VIVA RIVA! is my first Congoese film and it's a bit of a mixed bag. Obviously, there's entertainment value stemming from the novelty nature of the production; very few African films make it over to the west, so this gives viewers a glimpse of what the Democratic Republic of Congo looks like these days.Unfortunately, the film's narrative turns out to be heavily indebted to Hollywood fare, in particular the gangster genre. The protagonist is a newcomer who enters a world full of corrupt police and ruthless crime bosses. The main twist is that the commodity is petrol rather than drugs; the rest of the smuggling plot line plays out accordingly.What I didn't like about VIVA RIVA! was the incessant misogyny. Women are beaten and abused and used as playthings by the male characters, who are undoubtedly repulsive. Way too much screen time is padded out with needless sex and supposed erotic scenes, or pure bad taste moments like the bit with the woman urinating. It doesn't add up to very much in the end, aside from leaving an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Ruben Mooijman
Criminals fighting over stolen loot, double-crossing each other and paying off corrupt law-enforcers. Lots of shoot-outs and fist-fights. Beautiful women and tough guys. The occasional sex scene. A plot that twists and turns. Sounds like your average Hollywood gangster flick. But this is not Hollywood, but Kinshasa. The loot is not cocaine, but petrol. The location is not downtown LA or the Bronx, but a Congolese slum. The foreign gang leader is not Mexican, but Angolan. The hero doesn't drive a flashy car, but a battered wreck with 'auto école' written on it. Viva Riva is an unusual combination: a classic gangster movie, set in one of the poorest countries in the world. The result is an interesting film, that can appeal to thriller-fans and to art-house movie lovers. The movie has nothing of a classic third world film. Poverty or inequality is not an issue. It's all about fast-paced action. At the same time, it's very authentic. The language is Lingala, the slums are real, the music is Congolese. No artificial ingredients to please a western public. The plot has a lot of noir-elements. The femme fatale, leading the hero to his downfall; a labyrinthine plot, with no-one trusting no-one; and the seedy bars and brothels where a lot of the action takes place.
Megan Daniels
I initially thought this movie would be like any other mobster flick, but I was blown away at how good it actually was. I felt the actors were well chosen for their characters, especially Patsha Bay as Riva. He was a clever character that had me intrigued of what he was going to do next. Most scenes happen in Kinshasha which fits into the plot line and is also visually appealing. I feel the plot went to many extremes and was comical at times, which worked extremely well. If you're looking for an action packed film with quite an amount of gore, this films perfect for you ( as I do enjoy these type of films myself). This is definitely a must see and I can't wait to see it again.
gdt07
A total action packed thriller with ruthless violence and exotic sex scenes! It follows the story of Riva, a charismatic young man who stole fuel from a gangster, his chase for Nora, a vibrant woman who is already dating another gangster, and a gangster's chase for Riva to try and get his money back. The movie successfully portrays the levels of violence people in the Congo can reach when stuck in a country ravished by poverty, corruption and hopelessness. It shows how the violent lust for money and power can lead to your doom. As we see in the end all the gangsters chase for money leads them nowhere but to their dead end. When the young boy pretends he is driving away with the money at the very end I got the feeling that it was supposed to symbolize that history repeats itself and that money is an evil tool that can take over anyone's life, even a young boys. Its an in your face look at the extreme brutal reality in the Congo, that makes you think and keeps you on your toes!
AD
