Kinshasa’s roaring traffic, Chinese investors’ shenanigans and politicians’ rhetorics about Kongo’s modernization are left behind, as Belgian director Kristof Bilsen points his lingering camera at the absurd everyday lives of the workers in the city’s main post office, fire department and the secluded railway station.

The public sector of the third biggest city in Africa is falling apart at the seams. Many innovations look good on paper, but fail in practice.

The gutsy Henriette is tending the empty post office and still has faith in her career, even though she has to wait far too long for her wages. In the dilapidated firehouse, the mood is somewhat more cynical. The firemen curse the politicians who don’t understand that one firehouse is not enough to serve the needs of the whole city. On the porch of the quiet railway station, Simon spends his working days convivially, singing nostalgic songs and fixing his car.

The warm-hearted documentary takes a look at the lives and dreams of the government workers.

Text: Anna-Sofia Joro / Translation: Liina Härkönen

Language: Lingala, French
Subtitles: English