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King Leopold's Ghost

Play trailer Poster for King Leopold's Ghost PG-13 2006 1h 47m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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91% Tomatometer 11 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Based on Adam Hochschild's 1998 historical book of the same name, the film traces the brutal legacy of King Leopold II of Belgium. In the 1880s, Leopold began an underhanded campaign for the right to colonize the Congo Free State for himself, and once he succeeded, he turned the country into a slave camp, stripping out all valuable resources and slaughtering the locals. The film features interviews with Belgian scholars and Congolese survivors and is narrated by Don Cheadle.

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King Leopold's Ghost

Critics Reviews

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Michael Ordoña Los Angeles Times 09/28/2006
3/5
Although King Leopold's Ghost dwells perhaps too long on the viciousness, it does offer clues on how it became a circle. Go to Full Review Andrew Sarris Observer 08/23/2006
King Leopold's Ghost can be recommended as an economical education in one of the lesser-known atrocities of the capitalist system, as well as an eye-opening account of history's most ruthless amasser of wealth. Go to Full Review Sheri Linden The Hollywood Reporter 08/18/2006
In its hard-hitting depiction of a legacy of unspeakable brutality, this film shows that the ghosts of Leopold are alive and well. Go to Full Review Saundra Sorenson Ventura County Reporter 12/06/2018
A
In great detail, we see the origins of Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness, the galvanizing of ruthless investigative reporters and the glimmer of what might have been... Go to Full Review Andy Klein Los Angeles CityBeat 09/29/2006
... hugely informative ... but [it] can be hard to get through ... not so much because of its sometimes excessive level of detail, but because of the stream of atrocity photographs we are subjected to. Go to Full Review Ernest Hardy L.A. Weekly 09/28/2006
An often infuriating (and excruciating) film to watch, but one that gets to the root of the despair that now plagues so much of the African continent. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Bahad j @RT27093708 07/31/2024 The movie was a very exciting adventure from start to finish See more 05/15/2021 I'm amazed at friends who want to visit Africa & have their picture taken on an elephant. This story is about the Congo a country rich in cobalt, copper, diamond, tantalum, tin, gold, oil & rubber. Belgium's King made vast fortunes plundering these resources using the Congolians for slaves. A story that has been whitewashed to hide the crimes against the people. The U. S. & the news have been complicit in denying this brutal history while amassing fortunes. See more Read all reviews
King Leopold's Ghost

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Cast & Crew

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Pippa Scott

Director

Oreet Rees

Director

Don Cheadle

Narrator

Pippa Scott

Producer

Glory Friend

Co-Producer

Pippa Scott

Writer

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King Leopold's Ghost

King Leopold's Ghost (2006) King Leopold's Ghost (2006) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Based on Adam Hochschild's 1998 historical book of the same name, the film traces the brutal legacy of King Leopold II of Belgium. In the 1880s, Leopold began an underhanded campaign for the right to colonize the Congo Free State for himself, and once he succeeded, he turned the country into a slave camp, stripping out all valuable resources and slaughtering the locals. The film features interviews with Belgian scholars and Congolese survivors and is narrated by Don Cheadle.
Director
Pippa Scott, Oreet Rees
Producer
Pippa Scott
Screenwriter
Pippa Scott
Production Co
Linden Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Descriptions of Inhumanity|Graphic and Disturbing Images)
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Streaming)
May 20, 2016
Runtime
1h 47m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital