Filmmaker Sean Fine's uplifting 2007 Oscar-nominated documentary, about students at an African refugee school who work to overcome their traumatic past by practicing for a music contest, is a curious mixture of gritty subject and slick technique—a combination meant to enhance the film's emotional power, but instead dilutes it. The focus is on three students at a school in northern Uganda: singer Rose, dancer Nancy, and xylophone player Dominic. During the first part of the film, we watch the kids practicing their technique with help from teachers, while also hearing about their lives, which are filled with tragedy and horror. War Dance then takes us to the talent contest in Kampala, where we see the students performing, ending with a ceremony in which the winners are announced. The children's stories are obviously presented in a manner designed to both touch and inspire viewers, and one can't help but be relieved to see them now safe in the school's environment. But the interviews are so carefully composed, beautifully lit, and accompanied by lovely colorful images that these scenes have a lulling effect, cloaking the harsh realities of their recent histories in too attractive a package. However, even though War Dance tells a now familiar tale of tragedy in Africa, it's one that bears repeating in the face of continuing international indifference. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD extras include six deleted/extended scenes (21 min.) and trailers. Bottom line: a small extras package for an uneven documentary.] (F. Swietek)
War Dance
THINKFilm, 107 min., PG-13, DVD: $27.98, Apr. 15 Volume 23, Issue 3
War Dance
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