Soundtrack to a Coup d’Etat relentlessly tracks a hidden segment of Cold War history with rhythm and insight. What connection might there be between Louis Armstrong and uranium, the primary material for atomic bombs? The film recalls a seemingly plausible ‘60s musical project that brought legendary jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, and Duke Ellington to Congo. It reveals that behind the pacifist behavior of these “jazz goodwill ambassadors” was a CIA conspiracy to sway public opinion. In this political thriller-musical, the director uses music not merely as a soundtrack but as a political core character, giving rhythm and structure to the film. In this film, Johan Grimonprez presents another new way of writing history, by seamlessly weaving together a vast array of archival footage, Lumumba’s speeches, home movies, excerpts from history books, and interview recordings with the rhythms of rumba and jazz. (SEO Seunghee, BIFF)