Documentary film as a multimedia event The star cries, the fans go wild - this was Dodo's cinema concert premiere
The premiere of Dodo's documentary film "Yopougon" caused great emotion. And: as a mix of film evening, concert, slide show and stand-up comedy, the event showed a possible way into the future of cinema.
No time? blue News summarizes for you
- Singer and hit producer Dodo presents his film "Yopougon - Way Back Home" live in selected blue Cinemas.
- The documentary shows his journey by container ship toAfrica, where the "Hippie Bus" singer spent part of his childhood.
- On October 21, the film celebrated its premiere as a unique multimedia show at Zurich's Corso cinema.
- Concert, slide show, comedy night, movie night - Dodo's performance shows where the journey can take modern cinemas.
The popcorn bags rustle, the lights go out, the movie begins. So far, so usual. But that was it for the "normal" movie experience last night at Zurich's Corso film temple.
Because afterwards, the audience witnessed a cinema event that has never been seen before in this form in Switzerland.
In fact, hit producer Dodo didn't just present his new documentary "Yopougon - Way Back Home" at Corso, which traces his journey to his family's origins in Africa.
The "Hippie Bus" singer also used the event to give his fans a completely new cinematic experience with animations, graphics, anecdotes, pictures and live performances.
In fact, the mix of film evening, slide show, live concert and improvised comedy offered a new kind of fusion of big-screen cinema and live performance - and at the same time provided a taste of what else modern movie theaters have to offer in the post-pandemic era beyond blockbuster films and date nights.
Colorful bird, cool entertainer
Well, not every Swiss musician will benefit equally from this development. But if you're a born entertainer like Dodo, these new opportunities play into your hands.
You may think what you like of the colorful bird from Wallisellen, but the aplomb with which the now 45-year-old brought his very personal story to the audience in the almost completely full blue Cinema Corso 1 was astonishing.
"Make noise, dance, stand up, do what you want - I've never done any of this before," he says right at the start, breaking the ice. Even when he struggles with his "Drucki" - the remote control for the slideshow - from time to time over the course of the evening, it doesn't put him off his stride. The Zurich native also demonstrates his comedy talent and comments on his journey with a great sense of humor and a good feeling for the right line in the right place (example: "The world hit is written. Now the world just has to recognize it as a hit").
Odyssey of a container
Of course, if his movie were boring, it would be of little use. But the fascinating story of Dodo's journey to the Ivory Coast, where the singer spent the first five years of his life but has never been back for 40 years, is worth the price of admission alone.
From the beginnings of the idea, when his Zurich studio was torn down, to the first attempt, which was halted by the pandemic, to the relaunch of the project as a feature film and the journey to Africa, including the music studio on a container ship - "Yopougon" traces an almost unbelievable odyssey.
The singer brings international musicians he has met on his journey onto the Corso stage several times - transforming the movie theater into a raging concert arena.
The cinema audience even gets to sing a chorus for a new Dodo single; many of the songs performed are world premieres.
Tears for the deceased father
As in every good movie, Dodo's cinema show gets emotional at the end. During the interview about his late father, the singer bursts into tears on the screen. And when Dodo's mother comes on stage, the serious background to the journey becomes clear to everyone.
Since the death of Dodo's father, the family has never been back to the old homeland. The part of the film in which mother Jud and her two sons search for their old house in Abidjan is one of the strongest moments of the film - and of the evening. "Memories are one thing, reality is another," says Mother Jud meaningfully.
Dodo's cinema event will be remembered in many ways - as an entertaining slide show, an inspiring concert, a gripping movie night and, last but not least, as a touching personal story.
Cinema can be all of these things. Luckily, this experience will be repeated in selected blue Cinemas in Bern, St. Gallen, Lucerne and Chur until October 31, 2023.
Tickets for this extraordinary series of events are available now at: www.bluecinema.ch/dodo.
The multimedia showcase "Yopougon - Way Back Home" will be shown on free TV on blue Zoom in mid-October.
Note: blue News, like blue Cinemas, is part of blue Entertainment AG.
