rbbdagge Personal choice is sometimes hard to explain, but I have probably watched this film more times over the years than any other (and I've seen a LOT of films). It's certainly not Great Art but it is Great Fun, and it includes some dynamic music from Pepe Kalle and one of the best singers to come out of Congo, if not Africa, Papa Wemba. The story-line is simple - confused identities / poor boy who wants to be rich musician / rich man who wants beautiful girl, who in turn wants the poor man (thinking him to be rich...) etc etc.- but it is told with fluidity and humour, and it offers a great insight to Mobutu's Kinshasa when it was still a functioning and vibrant city. The film is African to the core (despite being co-directed by a Belgian), but its story and humour are universal. Years after initially seeing La Vie Est Belle, I went to live in Kinshasa and one of the first things I did was to seek out the identifiable landmarks shown therein (OK - so there isn't much to do in Kinshasa....). Pride was place was my actually eating in the (now almost derelict) restaurant where Papa Wemba takes Kabibi for a meal - called Lola La Crevette in the Kinshasa suburb of MaCompagne (also now largely derelict). Is the film really worth the 9 out of 10 I have awarded it??? Given the number of times I have watched it with immense pleasure I would say yes, but I imagine 99% of mankind might say no.....

thedirector101 The film I found was very high lighting of the then Congo. The characters were very well played. I gave it a 9 from 10 because there were parts where the story did not match and therefore had a space in the story line.But this might be only because of the formats I have gotten used to because of watching American cinema, where most things are tied together in a useful way to tell the story.I am from Canada but have visited Africa several times and this film makes me want to go back.The film and story line gives you a very good look into Africana life as I have seen there in my travels to the western coast.The film is very good, and I recommend this film to any who want to see African film at it's best.Well done!! Thedirector101

MartinHafer The average Western viewer will probably not get much out of this film. Given that in general we tend to have the attention-spans of gnats and like a lot of action in our films, La Vie est belle is a pretty forgettable film. BUT, it is an important film for a couple reason. First, teens could benefit from learning about African life and customs, so it can be recommended on that level. Also, for those who like international cinema, you'll probably have a higher tolerance for its lower production values and mundane nature of the plot--you don't need explosions and big-name actors to get you to watch a film. And, in either of these instances, the film will satisfy. It is a cute little movie about a man who wants to get married to wife #2 (while still married to wife #1--a custom that is not unheard of in many societies). Unfortunately, his poor ex-servant also wants this lady and does what he can to steal her from the rich man. Well, despite all this, in the end everyone seems pretty happy and the music ends. The film is lively, features a lot of modern tribally influenced music and an unusual plot.

njaj1 A simple tale, and a well-rehearsed one perhaps. A young man from the country travels to the 'big city' and tries out his luck making music.It's lively, colourful, constantly moving and musically enjoyable. The characters tend to border on caricatures (clearly deliberately so), and the overwhelming cheerfulness and optimism of the movie makes for an enjoyable time.It's not the ideal choice for anyone looking for a profound and revealing account of life in Zaire, it's much too frivolous for that. On the other hand it does provide a revealing sketch of street-life in Kinshasa which viewers from outside Africa may appreciate.