The Importance of Being Elegant
The Importance of Being Elegant
2004, French. Directed by Cosima Spender & George Amponsah.
Set to the soundtrack of Papa Wemba's extraordinary music, this outrageous, funny and eye-opening film depicts the underground world of a flamboyant African cult. Papa Wemba is a well-known Congolese singer. He is also a big cheese in Le Sape, the Société des Ambianceurs et Persons Élégants, which translated into English means a society of people who spend huge amounts of money on designer clothes with the motive of making themselves as conspicuously elegant as possible. The film is a splendid evocation of Papa Wemba's music, but it is also an unusual insight into what it means to be an immigrant in contemporary Europe. The sapeur have borrowed from our own culture, creating something rich and strange and wholly Congolese. Don't miss the scene where they try on fur coats.
- Runtime
- 1h 10m
- Post-credits
- None listed
- Language
- French
- Rated
- Check local
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Where to watch The Importance of Being Elegant
The Importance of Being Elegant isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 14 August 2004.
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Cast & crew
Details
- Released
- 14 August 2004
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Budget
- $250K
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News & fan talk
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The Importance of Being Elegant: quick answers
Is The Importance of Being Elegant worth watching?
The Importance of Being Elegant doesn’t have enough ratings for a verdict yet.
How long is The Importance of Being Elegant?
The Importance of Being Elegant runs 70 minutes (1h 10m).
Does The Importance of Being Elegant have a post-credits scene?
None is listed for The Importance of Being Elegant. Viewers tag these on TMDB, so a brand-new film may not be tagged yet.
The Importance of Being Elegant parents guide: is it suitable for kids?
No age rating is listed for The Importance of Being Elegant yet.
Which OTT platform is The Importance of Being Elegant on?
The Importance of Being Elegant isn’t streaming on any OTT platform in India yet; it released on 14 August 2004. (Checked 13 November 2026.)
What movies are like The Importance of Being Elegant?
If you liked The Importance of Being Elegant, try American Boy: A Profile of Steven Prince, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Terms and Conditions May Apply.
Who directed The Importance of Being Elegant?
The Importance of Being Elegant (2004) was directed by Cosima Spender and George Amponsah and stars Papa Wemba, Anti-Gigolo, Archibishop of La Sape.