“It may not be obvious,” says an interview subject in Kinshasa Symphony, the opening selection of this year’s New York African Film Festival, “but there are African rhythms in Beethoven.”

Like some of the most compelling documentaries, Kinshasa Symphony takes a dose of the familiar (in this case, the well-established canon of Western classical music) and transports it to someplace unexpected: the war-torn Congo, where a devoted group of musicians strive to build a vibrant symphony orchestra (central Africa’s only such institution). Weaving together the personal and the political, this documentary offers a unique view on the power of art and music within a conflict zone.

This morning’s edition of “The Takeaway” has a piece on this film, check it out here.

Limited tickets remain for tonight’s screening, otherwise you can see it on Friday. The New York African Film Festival is on now through next Tuesday.