“The Children’s War” is an eye-opening and compelling film about the atrocities against the people of Northern Uganda. The Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), led by an evil man named Joseph Kony, beats and wounds teens, such as 17-year-old Tito. Kony was arrested for 33 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, although he was still at large during the time of this documentary’s release. A teen girl named Jennifer, who wants to be a nun, speaks of her rape by soldiers, as well as the rape of her sister Evelyn. She also sings a hymn, in an amazing display of her courage and faith. One former soldier, initially captured by the LRA, now dedicates himself to nursing.
The scenes in the film are mind boggling, with children’s corpses seen laying on the ground, and a child being struck with a club, not to mention the comments about the many children and women who were raped and beaten. This documentary is not easy to watch at times, but it does a good job in showing the amazing value of hope and how so many of these victims, such as Jennifer, have clung to it. We are pleased to award “The Children’s War” our Faith Based Seal, due to some objectionable violent scenes. Still, the portrayal of the children’s spirit is to be commended.