Viva Riva!


Viva Riva! is a 2010 Congolese crime thriller film written and directed by Djo Tunda Wa Munga and starring Patsha Bay, Manie Malone, Fabrice Kwizera, Hoji Fortuna, Marlene Longage, Alex Herabo & Diplôme Amekindra. The film received 12 nominations and won 6 awards at the 7th Africa Movie Academy Awards, including the awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Cinematography & Best Production Design, a feat that made it the highest winning film in the history of the AMAA's till date. Viva Riva! also won at the 2011 MTV Movie Awards for Best African Movie.

Plot

The film follows a fuel smuggler, Riva, after he brings a fuel shipment into Kinshasa. Riva is pursued by an Angolan gangster, Cesar, who wants the fuel. Cesar uses blackmail to gain the help of a local military officer, the Commandant, who then accesses a local informant and church resources to aid Cesar's search. Meanwhile, Riva falls for Nora, the partner of a local gangster, Azor. Riva gains the trust of a local boy and uses his help to find Nora again. The conflicts turn out to be deadly for almost all the main characters.

Cast

Reviews has been very positive, It currently holds an 86% fresh rating based on 59 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes with a general description that "Vibrant and violent, Viva Riva is a stylish, fast-paced crime drama.". It has a 65% rating on Metacritic based on 16 reviews.