African war movies offer a unique lens through which to view the complexities of conflict, resilience, and the human spirit. These films often tackle difficult subjects, shedding light on historical events and the personal stories of those affected by war. From harrowing tales of child soldiers to epic historical battles, African war movies provide a powerful and often underrepresented perspective on the realities of war.
Beasts of No Nation (2015)
Beasts of No Nation is a 2015 American war drama film written, co-produced, shot, and directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga. Cary Joji Fukunaga directed his own script, after having worked on it for seven years. It was not until after six years of research on the Sierra Leone Civil War that Fukunaga came across the Beasts of No Nation novel. He told Creative Screenwriting, "I read through the novel and I loved the elegant and concise way that Uzodinma Iweala told the story.
The film follows a young boy, Agu, who becomes a child soldier as his country experiences a horrific civil war.
BEASTS OF NO NATION | The Child Soldier Featurette | Netflix
On August 20, 2013, Idris Elba joined the cast of the film adaptation. On June 6, 2014, Ghanaian actors Ama K. Abebrese, Grace Nortey and others joined Idris Elba in Beast of No Nation Movie.
Synopsis
A young boy, Agu, lives in a small West African village with his parents and siblings, located within a "buffer zone" enforced by ECOMOG troops. The village is informed that the government has fallen and military-aligned rebels have seized control of the country. With rebel forces headed towards the village, many people flee to the country's capital for safety.
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Agu's father buys safe transport for his wife and two youngest children but has to stay behind with Agu and his eldest son. Rebel and government forces fight in and around Agu's village. After wandering for a while, Agu is caught up in a guerrilla skirmish.
The Native Defense Forces (NDF), a rising rebel faction in the country, adopt Agu into their ranks. Agu's battalion is led by the Commandant, who takes Agu under his wing. Following a brutal initiation process where Agu hacks an innocent captive to death with a machete, Agu becomes a fully-fledged member of the militia. Agu befriends another young NDF child soldier, Strika, who never speaks.
One night, the Commandant summons Agu to his quarters and rapes him. Strika, another of the Commandant's rape victims, comforts him. Preacher, an older soldier, gives Agu brown-brown to lift his mood. Agu and Strika take part in a number of bloody battles and ambushes. During one of the raids Agu, under the influence of brown-brown, mistakes a villager for his mother. He exclaims that he found her and clings to her while the other members of the group declare they want to rape her. The woman does not recognize Agu and he calls her a witch woman.
The battalion's many victories earn them a summons to the rebel headquarters, where the Commandant, accompanied by Agu, Strika, and a few other soldiers, go to meet with the NDF leader, Dada Goodblood. Goodblood, who stresses the importance of public image in the wake of the conflict becoming world news, denies the Commandant his promised promotion to General, and removes him from command. The Commandant's lieutenant, Two I-C, will take control of the battalion, and the Commandant will be made Deputy Chief of Security under the leader.
The Commandant views this as an insult, and leaves to "celebrate" with his men at a brothel. While the adult soldiers spend the night with the brothel's women, one of the women shoots Two I-C. Two I-C accuses the Commandant of orchestrating the incident before dying, while the Commandant insists it must have been a botched attempt against himself. Now on the run from their own faction as well as their enemies, the battalion suffers heavy losses. Air strikes and supply shortages kill Strika and many others.
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The survivors take shelter at a gold mine for several months, hoping to find gold to pay for supplies. Ammunition runs out, leaving the group with no way to defend themselves from encroaching enemy forces. Following a confrontation between a frustrated Preacher and paranoid Commandant, Agu and the soldiers all abandon the Commandant to surrender, ignoring his warnings that they will merely be thrown in jail and disowned by their families.
The younger members of the battalion are sent to a missionary school in a safe part of the country, while Preacher and Randy decide to run away to rejoin the war. Agu avoids the other children, who play games and enjoy the comfort and safety of the school. Agu suffers from drug withdrawal and is tormented by what has happened and has nightmares about it. Eventually, Agu tells the school's counselor that he has done some terrible things, which he fears will make her see him as a "beast". Instead he tells of how he used to be a good boy from a family who loved him.
Reception and Accolades
The film received positive reviews from critics and numerous accolades. It was screened in the main competition section of the 72nd Venice International Film Festival, where Attah won the Marcello Mastroianni Award. The film was shown in the Special Presentation section of the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival and released on Netflix globally and in a limited release by Bleecker Street on October 16, 2015. It is the first film to be released directly on Netflix.
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 91% based on 150 reviews, with an average rating of 7.90/10. Netflix bought the worldwide distribution rights for around $12 million.
Other Notable African War Movies
While Beasts of No Nation stands out, several other films explore similar themes and conflicts across the African continent:
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- Ezra (2007): This film gives an African perspective on the disturbing phenomenon of abducting child soldiers.
- La Nuit de la Vérité: Situated in an imaginary West African country, this film explores peace negotiations after ten years of civil war.
- Zabana: Chronicles the life of Ahmed Zabana, a man who fought for Algerian freedom in the Battle of Algiers.
- Njinga: Queen of Angola: In the 17th century, a warrior woman fights for the independence of Angola.
Themes and Impact
African war movies often delve into themes of colonialism, political instability, and the devastating impact of conflict on civilian populations. These films serve as a reminder of the human cost of war and the resilience required to rebuild shattered societies.
The cinematic history of the worldwide effort to destroy South African apartheid, a story that has never been told before in any medium. An epic 7-film history on how a violent, racist, intractable government was destroyed by the concerted efforts of men and women working on multiple fronts inside and outside South Africa for more than four decades. The series follows three generations of the struggle inside South Africa and battles waged in sports arena, cathedrals, embassies, corporate boardrooms, rock concerts and gas stations around the globe, culminating in the most globalized human rights struggle in history.
DEATH METAL ANGOLA follows a loving Angolan couple, Sonia and Wilker, whose love for death metal music is bringing hope to the town and children of Huambo, and Angola as a country. The devastating reality of Angola's history of wars, and civil unrest has left the country's people torn, broken, and starving for something to give them peace. Sonia, and Wilker's dream to put on the first national rock festival ignites the emotions of the Angolan people, and helps them heal from the war stricken path Angola has left behind.
Awards and Recognition
African war movies have garnered international recognition, with films like Beasts of No Nation receiving nominations and awards from prestigious organizations. These accolades help bring attention to the important stories being told and the talented filmmakers behind them.
Beasts of No Nation was recognized with several awards:
- Marcello Mastroianni Award (Abraham Attah) at the Venice International Film Festival
- Netflix Wins Big At 75th Annual Peabody Awards
These films often challenge viewers to confront uncomfortable truths and consider the long-lasting effects of conflict on individuals and communities.
