Watch King Leopold's Ghost

"King Leopold's Ghost" is a 2006 historical documentary film directed by Pippa Scott, based on the best-selling book with the same title by Adam Hochschild. The film takes us on a journey through the horrific and rarely talked about crimes committed by King Leopold II of Belgium, during his colonial reign over Congo Free State in the late 19th and early 20th century.

The film combines archive footage, reenactments, expert interviews, and personal accounts to present a comprehensive account of the dark and bloody history of the Belgian Congo. The film is narrated by Don Cheadle, who provides a voice to the tragically silenced African victims of Leopold's brutal rule.

The film opens with the story of George Washington Williams (played by James Cromwell), an African-American journalist sent on a fact-finding mission to Congo in 1890 by the US government. Williams was one of the first people to expose the atrocities committed by Leopold's forces against the Congolese people, including forced labor, torture, and mass killings.

From there, the film delves into the complex web of politics, economics, and racism that allowed Leopold to maintain his brutal regime in Congo for over two decades. The film shows how Leopold used propaganda, lies, and deceptions to convince the European powers that he had the best interests of the Congolese people at heart, while in reality he was exploiting the country's vast natural resources and subjecting its people to unimaginable suffering and misery.

The film offers a glimpse of the Congolese resistance to Leopold's rule, including the heroic stand of the Wagenia fishermen on the Congo River, who refused to work for Leopold's companies and were ruthlessly punished for their defiance. We also see a rare and fascinating footage of the first anti-colonial conference held in Paris in 1919, where African delegates demanded an end to European domination and exploitation of their continent.

Throughout the film, we are introduced to a range of characters, both historical and contemporary, who illuminate different aspects of the story. These include descendants of Congolese victims, historians, activists, politicians, and artists, who offer diverse perspectives on the legacy of Leopold's rule and its impact on Congo and the world.

One particularly moving segment of the film features the story of Mwepu Ilunga, a Congolese man who was forced to work as a child laborer in the mines owned by Leopold's companies. Ilunga's harrowing testimony, along with that of other survivors, underscores the human toll of Leopold's greed and cruelty.

Overall, "King Leopold's Ghost" is a sobering and thought-provoking film that shines a light on one of the darkest chapters in African history. It is a testament to the resilience and courage of the people who fought against colonialism and a call to action for those who seek to build a more just and equitable world.

King Leopold's Ghost is a 2017 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 42 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 71.