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      Echoes From a Somber Empire

      1990 1h 31m Documentary List
      Reviews 73% Audience Score 50+ Ratings An examination of self-proclaimed emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa's rule in the Central African Republic using the testimony of witnesses and visits to key sites. Read More Read Less

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      Echoes From a Somber Empire

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member Mildly interesting doc about Central African Republic emperor Bokassa. There are fascinating elements to the story -- cannibalism, megalomania, forced marriages, the tale of "the two Martines" -- but for some reason the film still seems to be a bit drab and slow. Perhaps the problem is that it's told almost entirely in anecdotes and we get little facetime with the man himself (who was in prison and sentenced to death at the time). It is unquestionably a Herzog work, though, profiling people at the fringes of society. He bookends the film with two of his signature haunting images: an army of crabs marching out of the sea and overtaking some railroad tracks, and a chimp smoking a cigarette. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member An underrated entry into Herzog's filmography. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      Echoes From a Somber Empire

      Echoes From a Somber Empire (1990) Echoes From a Somber Empire (1990) Echoes From a Somber Empire (1990) Echoes From a Somber Empire (1990) View more photos

      Movie Info

      Synopsis An examination of self-proclaimed emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa's rule in the Central African Republic using the testimony of witnesses and visits to key sites.
      Director
      Werner Herzog
      Screenwriter
      Werner Herzog
      Production Co
      Werner Herzog Filmproduktion
      Genre
      Documentary
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Mar 9, 2021
      Runtime
      1h 31m
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