Activist reporting combined with ordinary news coverage has shone a spotlight on the brutal treatment that African warlord Joseph Kony's so-called Lord's Resistance Army has inflicted on the children of northern Uganda for years, turning them into brainwashed soldiers or sex slaves, and often killing their families. Director Bil Yoelin's After Kony sketches one modest effort to address the psychological trauma suffered by those who have escaped the tyrant's control. The American-developed program Voices in Harmony—which employs theater to help at-risk children express their feelings—takes its concept to a Ugandan refugee center, recruiting 14 teens to construct scenes and monologues based on their experiences, which they then perform, along with musical numbers, for the camp residents. Much of the documentary is devoted to the process of writing and rehearsing, culminating in excerpts from the final performance, which provides both entertainment and instruction for the audience while helping the youngsters confront their own demons. One can't help but be moved by the resilience and perseverance of the orphans, as well as by the bond that grows between the kids and the visitors who are determined to help. DVD extras include a study guide on Uganda and the project, a photo gallery, and text bios on the filmmaking crew. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (F. Swietek)
After Kony: Staging Hope
(2011) 99 min. In English & Luo w/English subtitles. DVD: $24.95. First Run Features (avail. from most distributors). Volume 28, Issue 2
After Kony: Staging Hope
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