Canada | 2007 | 83 min 41 sec | Video | O.V. acholi, langi, english with english sub-titles
A visually exquisite, meditative immersion into a Uganda ravaged by 20 years of war. When expressive means serve as a denunciation.
The population is the battleground in “one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world,” where war continues between rebels and the Ugandan government. As rebels abduct and force children and adults into their ranks, thousands flood into towns searching for security. In response, the government forces 1.7 million people into camps in an attempt to cut off the rebel’s supplies and recruits. Instead of protection, the camps offer disease and death.
Politically crisp and salient, the film captures the realities of war in northern Uganda through the interconnected stories of five people, including: a mother turned activist after her daughter’s abduction; a young girl traveling miles daily looking for a safe place to sleep; a 7 year old boy who moved onto the streets to survive; and an increasingly outspoken and courageous man whose job takes him to the heart of the war.
The film powerfully elucidates what it means for people to live through a war carried out by rebels and played down and drawn out by a complicit government. Shot entirely onsite and told exclusively through the images, voices and perspectives of Ugandans.
- Director : Catherine Hébert
- Editing : Annie Jean
- Image : Sébastien Gros
- Sound and editing : Mélanie Gauthier
- Songs : Choir of St Mary’s Aboke College, Uganda
- Additional music : Martin Léon
- Producers : Brigitte Dion & Catherine Hébert
Produced by: Mango Films
With the participation of :
- Feinstein International Center, Tufts University Canadian International Development Agency International Development Research Center
- Société de développement des entreprises culturelles – Québec Programme d’aide aux jeunes créateurs
- Film and Television Tax Credit – Québec
- Post-production at PRIM under the program « documentaire d’auteur à risque »
- Canadian Independent Film and Video Fund
- Conseil des arts et des lettres du Québec
- The Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit
- Télé-Québec
Distributed by :