War Dance [DVD]

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. [...].

I invited a friend to see this movie at a small theater by my house because she and I both have a heart for Africa. We sat in the empty theater, moved by the stories and weeping during the hard parts.Shortly after, I left for Tanzania (Africa) and spent 3 months working with orphans and vulnerable children (living with aids / affected by aids). If you haven't experienced African culture, you might not fully understand the families, the children nor the music competition (I saw a comment that talked bad about the families being so harsh).Africa is torn apart by the aids epidemic, poverty, famine and war. And the the children are left with little to no hope. They realize that their one key to success is education but even that is limited to the rich or sponsored children since "public" school still needs to be paid for.This documentary does well to showcase how the children of Uganda are affected by this horrible war and how they have such a hope in a music competition so they can be seen as more than children of war.After watching this documentary, I recommend researching the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army), this war, northern Uganda and going to the film makers web page. Documentaries such as this are making changes to a country that needs our help. The more we are aware, the better it will get.

This if a breath taking movie and true to the core. It is not so much about war but how we can recover from war and the people that do the work. I must be be critical of one point that is common to many Africa movies that want a larger audiance. This movie show children and parents in prayer and pastors but it hides the role of Christian missioners in the reconciliation movement in the film. Doing this increase donations and the size of the market, but it is and insult to the hundreds of thousands of good people on the ground risking their lives for these kids every day. In writing my books on Kenya and Zambia I have faced more than one machete to rescue children. A major for that gives these kids strength is the forgiveness that the Christian faith offers them. It is key for their suvival and unjust that we edit it out of films for fundraising purposes. When I wrote like Life Inside the Gospel Rescue Mission I had to wressle with this. Censoring Jesus is not a truthful documentarty technique. In the end we must ask what are we afraid of in documenting the whole truth.This veideo, Beat the Drum" and "Sometimes in April" are all must sees.

Having been in several African countries, I was very impressed with the background of this story revealing the daily living conditions of the children and their families. The commitment of the music team that visited this school to train the children stood out showing their love for the children and desire to help each child reach their potential. One can easily see the rapid progress the children gained in leaning how to sing and dance and play very simple instruments. Their presentation at the national contest was outstanding. I had tears in my eyes in watching them perform. This is truly an amazing story that the world needs to see. Thank you to all who had a part in recording and producing this thrilling true story of achievement by children who had little positive influence in their lives. RB, Wilmore, KY.

Planning a trip to southern Uganda. This fairly recent documentary gives an insight into both rural and urban Uganda. While our trip will be medical based and this film is education based, it appears to capture both the stable southern part of Uganda and the less stable northern part. It's basically a African "Hoosiers" type of film, about a music contest rather than basketball, with a kind of happy ending. We'll watch again after our return to see where the film maker's bias's were. It's not a travel film suitable for small children as the interviews are nauseatingly verbally graphic. It fits the mold of 40 percent uplifting versus 60 percent depressing genre of modern documentary films.

This is an important film as it not only shares the story of Northern Uganda's war but it does so with grace and hope. This is a rare film that leaves you with both the pangs of their suffering but as well the hope that all people need to keep going despire challenging odds.

If you want to see a really good movie, then this is it. Not your typical "Hollywood" type, more of a docu-drama this will grip you from the start, and hold your attention throughout. Although it follows a group of Ugandan children trying to win a National Music Competition, the real story is of three children, and their difficult ( if indeed not horrific )upbringing. Be sure you can devote uninterrupted time to watch this video, and have kleenex on standby. You won't be disappointed, and like me, you'll want to share it with others!!

I chose to used this video in my World Issues class because it shows a very peronal view of the conflict going on. All the issues relating to the conflicty are covered, such as child soldiers, refugee camps, and UN aid. The nicest thing about the documentary is that even in such a terreble situation there is still hope.

Actually, I attempted to watch it but it wasn't what I thot it was going to be and only watched about 10 - 15 minutes and wasn't enjoying it so I stopped the movie.

This documentary is superbly produced, and it is a very moving story about hope and determination. Definitely worth five stars!