When We Were Kings
- Muhammad Ali
- George Foreman
- Don King
- Spike Lee
- Norman Mailer
When We Were Kings ( Alternative title When We Were Kings - Once we were kings ) is an American documentary from 1996, which was directed by Leon Gast. Essentially, the film by the legendary world championship heavyweight boxing match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman, the so-called Rumble in the Jungle is. The battle took place on 30 October 1974 in Kinshasa, Zaire.
In the film, a number of celebrities are shown, including James Brown, Jim Brown, BB King, Norman Mailer, George Plimpton, Spike Lee and Thomas Hauser.
When We Were Kings received very positive reviews and won the 1996 Oscar for Best Documentary.
Content
The film shows the preparations for the fight. Ali talks about his beliefs regarding the situation of African-Americans and Africans and mocks Foreman. The film shows the popularity of Ali at the press and the people of Zaire and Foreman failed attempts also to develop a popularity. The role of boxing promoter Don King is also described. This made his first appearance as a boxing promoter in Zaire. Excerpts from the performances of Miriam Makeba, James Brown and BB King in Zaire are also shown. The film is also with the question of why the fight in Zaire, despite the brutal tyranny Mobutu Sese Seko takes place. In one scene you can see how Ali Mobutu welcomed and embraced. Norman Mailer, George Plimpton, Spike Lee, Malick Bowens and Thomas Hauser will be interviewed and comment on Zaire, Ali and the battle. Most had Ali credited against the young and immensely powerful Foreman little chance Also shown much of the fight itself. Ali practiced in this fight successfully the tactics of the rope -a- dope Ali could be edit multiple rounds of Foreman with blows. Here, Ali held the cover up and bounced off the ropes. Here, Foreman was a hand weighed in safety, on the other hand, he lost a lot of energy in trying to strike down Ali. In the eighth round, Ali landed then a hit that sent Foreman to the ground. Ali brought back so his title, which had been fighting him for refusing the Vietnam War, but known. Spike Lee remarked to the conclusion that he thought it was unfortunate that the youth knew so little about this time and your most striking personalities.
Reviews
- When We Were Kings received mostly positive reviews, for example, by film critic Roger Ebert and Edward Guthmann.
- Ebert praised the film for having a Be moved in the past and the electricity Muhammad Ali should capture.
- Guthmann praises the director also sure to capture the atmosphere of the time and also to emphasize the importance for African pride and the African self-esteem.
- Wolfgang Hübner wrote in the Rhein-Zeitung: " It is one of the advantages of this film that he can hear the rousing rhythms, which was presented by the terraces to Zaire musicians such as James Brown, BB King and others at the time. " Furthermore, the film documenting the successful " incomparable charisma of Ali's person and his popularity among the local masses."
- " A dramatic stock of one of the most momentous events in an eventful decade."
- " When We Were Kings " is the biggest success of the director and was honored in 1997 with the Oscar for best documentary. Completely dogs: The Documentary lives of the density mounting, the entertainer Ali and music. The result is a mixture that transports the excitement of the " Rumble in the Jungle" in the present day. You can see the film and understands what moved people.
Awards
Nominated for the Grand Prix of the Belgian Federation of Film Critics.