La Vie est belle takes us inside the vibrant music scene of Kinshasha, Congo's exhilarating and exasperating capital whose back alleys and clubs pulsate to the beat of some of the most influential music in the world. The film, starring Soukous music legend Papa Wemba, tells the rags-to-riches story of a poor country musician who seeks fame in the music industry. This lively farce illustrates the Congoleses' faith in Système-D or débrouillardise, fending for yourself in the face of overwhelming obstacles. If there is a commercial cinema in Africa's future, then La Vie est belle may be one of its precursors. "Like Black Orpheus, La Vie est belle is a fairy tale embellished by joyous music and phantasmagorical images." (Village Voice)