這部電影所呈現的，是一段曾經被壓抑近四十年的非洲殖民血淚史︰一九六零年六月三十日，非洲剛果獨立之日，脫離比利時近八十年殖民；翌年一月十七日，帶領剛果走向獨立的民族英雄盧蒙巴遭刺殺。

就在這段殖民與獨立的臨介期，盧蒙巴與剛果的命運緊緊扣連。電影主要圍繞盧蒙巴的經歷，由最初只是一名賣啤酒的知客，靠著出色的演說，堅定的國族精神，成為獨立運動領頭人，最終更在獨立後的民選政府擔任總理。可是， 名義上的獨立與真正的獨立總有段距離，盧蒙巴的總理生涯亦只有八十一天。面對比利時政府、叛軍、本地權貴所形成的反動力量，盧蒙巴早有視死如歸的準備，直至死前一刻，也不顯一絲軟弱。

A wicked political satire about African dictators, this film tells the story of the president of a fictitious African nation who spends a sleepless night playing checkers with a pot-smoking vagabond who is claimed to be the "all-around champion". However the rules of the game entail opponents howling vulgar and foul obscenities at one another. The Champion proceeds to insult, and trounce the President. His reward - and fate - are not exactly unexpected in this hilarious send-up of living under tyranny.

Lucien is a dwarf, who works hard in a large legal office. His only friend is trapeze circus artist Isis. One day he gets the attention of singer Paola Bendoni and falls in love with her.