WAR DANCE

WAR DANCE - 2007

RATED - PG-13 for SOME THEMATIC MATERIAL INVOLVING DESCRIPTIONS OF WAR ATROCITIES.

RATINGS - 16 Amazon (5/5), 5,201 Netflix (3.9/5), 302 IMDB (7.7/10).

AWARDS - Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. Other wins & nominations at various film festivals including Sundance.

THEMES - War, injustice, hope, freedom.

STORY - This is a documentary you won't soon forget about growing up in a refugee camp in war torn Northern Uganda. It takes you back and forth down two tracks until the grand finale. One track is the horrific stories of violence and terror as told by the children themselves (the PG-13 rating) about being forced to watch their parents and siblings being killed and picking up the body parts after, about being forced at gunpoint to kill others with a hoe and other unspeakable experiences. The other track takes you down a path of hope and optimism as you follow the preparation of Patongo Grammar School (the school in the camp) to participate in the prestigious national music and dance festival in Kampala. One very talented young student is determined to be the 'best xylophone player in Uganda'. This is the first time this school has been selected to represent their tribe at the competition. They bring in two professional teachers to help. The students are excited and confident and nervous-for many (if not most) their first trip to a real city. With the camp under 24/7 armed military guard, there is little opportunity to venture more than a few yards outside the camp perimeter. Finally, the big day arrives and the village sends them off in trucks with armed guards. Even in Uganda there is the 'wrong side of the tracks' and the students discover that the other students at the festival consider them to be from that side. This makes them even more determined to win. The competition is an exciting finish to this both horrific and heartwarming film. Lu G. for Lu's Reviews. 05/17/2008.

PERSONAL - Perhaps this has already happened but wouldn't it be great if some American elementary classes/schools started communicating with these children. Encourage your friends to watch this powerful documentary. It is available for instant viewing on Netflix.

LINKS - AMAZON, IMDB, TRAILER, SHINE GLOBAL