War Dance
February. 15,2007 PG-13Three children living in a displacement camp in northern Uganda compete in their country's national music and dance festival.
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I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.
This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.
The film may be flawed, but its message is not.
This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.
This is a documentary that makes one realize fully the power of film. This is a very intense film on the rehabilitation of young children whose lives have been shattered by war – in this case a war in northern Uganda. This rehabilitation is done by involvement in music and dance. There is a universality to these art forms that hopefully will bring joy and strength back to their lives.I also loved the way this film portrayed African people – there are relatively few films that give a full portrait of the people of Africa. There are many films depicting events in Africa. This one gives a full view of both people and events – it does not portray people in the abstract. Some of the events narrated in this documentary are not for the faint of heart. I would not recommend this film for young children.It also makes one realize how we in the affluent west are so overloaded with our gadgets and toys. How much does one need for happiness? There is both great joy and sadness in this documentary, so be prepared.
DANCING AROUND GENOCIDE. Some scenes.. clearly staged and a Uganda government employee, Emmanuel Olobo of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was also a translator, raising questions about objectivity and the extent of the dictatorship's involvement in other aspects of the film; what's shocking is that Olobo's name is even listed on the credits at the end of the film, although he is not identified as a government official, until recently based in the Uganda embassy in Washington, D.C. as First Secretary, where he worked under Ugandan ambassador Perezi Kamunanwire, Uganda's chief apologist to the U.S. The film's most glaring weakness is failure to adequately expose the Museveni regime's role in creating the concentration camps and forcefully forcing Acholis, women, men and children into the camps (for more background please see the Human Rights Watch Report "Uprooted and Forgotten, Impunity and Human Rights Abuses.http://blackstarnews.com/?c=132&a=4253
War/Dance is one of the best documentaries I have ever seen. It made me feel happy and sad at the same time. These children are amazing. Their plight reminds me of the children in the Holocaust. It also made me realize that we are lucky to live in the 21st century and that we are truly a "global" community. What does the average person know about life in Uganda today? Watching these children tell their heart-wrenching stories made me want to go to there and visit their village. I think because of the contest these children have hopes and dreams again. They rose above the horrors of war and achieved, in a sense, nobility, not just for themselves but for their whole tribe. Directors/writers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix ought to receive an academy award for their excellent work! Do not miss this film! Its images will stay with you for a long time.
Much like Gore's film, War/Dance is a great cinematic contribution to the world. Bold statement. This film has less urgency and less catastrophe than Gore's but still, it must be watched. I really like the style of storytelling: they allowed the three main subjects--three children: Rose, Nancy, & Dominic--to do all of the storytelling (without any provided narration). The result is three intimate and soul-wrenching revelations of turmoil and perseverance, and most importantly, of hope. Children can be very profound; these three definitely are. They have that look of war veterans in their eyes. Amazingly captured in the cinematography. The shots, presentation of political & social subject matter, emotional content--all excellent. You will walk away informed & attached, and wanting to take action; you don't feel like you've just read yesterday's newspaper or received some second or third-generation information. This film is moving in so many ways. Go.