Rising Up at Night Review Highlights Kinshasa's Resilience

Nelson Makengo's feature documentary debut, "Rising Up at Night," offers an intimate portrayal of life in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where persistent electricity shortages profoundly shape daily existence. The film opens with a stark black screen accompanied by the sound of a fervent sermon, immediately establishing the atmosphere of darkness and the reliance on faith as a source of hope for the city's inhabitants. This reliance is further underscored by the challenges posed by climate disasters, which have led to widespread flooding, exacerbating the already difficult living conditions. Makengo's cinematic approach imbues nocturnal life with an otherworldly quality, highlighting how fundamental human needs become difficult to attain in this environment.

The documentary, primarily filmed in Makengo's own neighborhood of Kisenso, meticulously observes the adaptive strategies employed by residents struggling to navigate a life lived in perpetual shadow. Scenes depict meals being shared by the flickering light of candles, and churchgoers utilizing illuminated medallions to read their prayer books during services. These survival mechanisms not only demonstrate a profound collective resilience but also transform ordinary activities into something that appears eerily dystopian. The film captures the concerns of the community's matriarchs, who voice their anxieties about the increase in crime and sexual assaults that occur in the absence of public lighting. Simultaneously, younger members of the neighborhood are shown actively engaged in fundraising efforts to recover stolen electric cables, a testament to their proactive approach to addressing the infrastructure deficit.

In the stark reality depicted by "Rising Up at Night," the absence of consistent state support forces residents to depend on their own ingenuity and communal bonds. The documentary posits that this pervasive community spirit serves as the sole enduring source of energy and perseverance in times of extreme precarity. Makengo's debut is not just a chronicle of hardship but a powerful testament to the human capacity to find light and maintain hope even when faced with overwhelming darkness and systemic neglect. The film's focus on the everyday struggles and the extraordinary solidarity of the people of Kinshasa provides a compelling narrative of survival and the enduring strength of collective action.