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War Dance
Directed by: Sean Fine and Andrea Nix
Starring: The Children of Northern Uganda
Genre:
Documentary
Run Time: 105
min.
Release Date:
November 2007
On The Web:
Official
Site
Teaser:
Movie Trailer
Reviewed by
Byron Merritt |
Nominated at the 2008
Oscars in the Best Documentary category, it is easy to see why WAR
DANCE was on top of that list. Although it lost out to TAXI TO
THE DARK SIDE, War Dance need not hang its head.
Little known subjects are a great thing to learn about, and this is
War Dance’s biggest strength. The civil war in Uganda has raged for
over 20 years, but few know what it’s about or its effects on the
population. One look at War Dance will give you some chilling
insights.
Focusing on three children within the Patongo refugee camp of northern
Uganda, all of the kids have lost at least one parent, sibling or family
member to the horrors of the war, and have been forced into this
government protected camp for basic survival. Life is dank, depressing,
and full of fear. Until one day the children discover that their little
school has qualified for the finals at the annual Kampala Music
Festival. And with them will go Dominic, a boy forced into being a child
soldier for the rebels and desperately trying to locate his lost
brother. A gripping scene between himself and a rebel leader tells
Dominic much of what he already suspected. Nancy, a tough young lady,
will go the Kampala, too. And with her she brings the hopes and dreams
of her father who was hacked to death by machetes (the visit to his
grave is sure to have many reaching for the tissue box). Then we have
Rose, the soft-spoken one who is obviously in a funk of depression. But
to watch her dance is to see the lights burst forth from her eyes.
The documentary is exceptionally well put together. The cinematography
of the surrounding jungle is awe-inspiring, as are the tough scenes
where children are put in front of the camera and asked to explain how
they feel (“I can’t wait to see what peace looks like,” says one of them
as they prepare to compete in Kampala).
Shown as a sort of David and Goliath tale, one can’t help but see the
infiltration of Christianity on these people’s lives, too. Their
clothing, their “prayers”, and many other aspects speak to the
westernization of their culture. One of the competition categories is
even called “Western Choral Music.” But the big winner in the categories
is obviously the native dance sequence where Dominic shines as the
xylophone player, Nancy dances and spins with delight, and Rose comes
back to life. The other schools, initially sneering at this “tiny school
from the north”, begin to respect them.
But can these first timers win anything at a festival where they compete
against schools of much greater renown? You’ll have to watch and find
out. And you should. The tales of torture mixed with the joy of music
and dance are something everyone should see. And you might even learn
something you didn’t know about in another part of the world.
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Image from War Dance
DVD cost: $18.93
Purchase:
Tower.com
Film Review Stew
Favorite? Yes.
Stew Poo-Poo? No.
Newsworthy:
Won the Sundance 2007
Directing award and was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize.
Movie Quote: "I
can't wait to see what peace looks like."
Other Actors/Actresses
from War Dance
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