War Dance
directed by: Andrea Nix, Sean Fine
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Product Description:
Studio: Image EntertainmentRelease Date: 04/15/2008Run time: 107 minutesRating: Pg13
Amazon.com:
The superb documentary War/Dance reveals the redemptive power of music, even in the most horrific places. Focusing on three children in their early teens in war-torn Uganda--stoic Nancy, driven Dominic, and soft-spoken Rose--War/Dance tracks the efforts of the school of a refugee camp called Patongo to compete in Uganda's countrywide music competition. The contrasts are staggering; in interviews, the children describe their parents being killed by rebel soldiers, then footage of rehearsal shows them joyfully singing and dancing with their classmates. Some of the sequences are harrowing (a scene where Nancy grieves for her murdered father is painful to watch), but without them, we wouldn't understand how hard-won are the feelings of pride and accomplishment as their school performs for the competition's judges. The built-in structure of the competition gives this documentary a clear and engrossing storyline, much like Spellbound or Mad Hot Ballroom, but the heartbreaking circumstances and the emotional openness of the three teenagers makes War/Dance even more compelling. In one particularly striking scene, Dominic talks to a captured rebel officer, hoping to learn if his brother is still alive. As they talk, the soldier--who's around the age Dominic's brother might be--tries to be helpful, and explains almost offhandedly why the brother is most likely dead. The casualness of this conversation, devoid of Hollywood histrionics, speaks volumes about how violence has infiltrated these people's daily lives. --Bret Fetzer
Studio: Image EntertainmentRelease Date: 04/15/2008Run time: 107 minutesRating: Pg13
Amazon.com:
The superb documentary War/Dance reveals the redemptive power of music, even in the most horrific places. Focusing on three children in their early teens in war-torn Uganda--stoic Nancy, driven Dominic, and soft-spoken Rose--War/Dance tracks the efforts of the school of a refugee camp called Patongo to compete in Uganda's countrywide music competition. The contrasts are staggering; in interviews, the children describe their parents being killed by rebel soldiers, then footage of rehearsal shows them joyfully singing and dancing with their classmates. Some of the sequences are harrowing (a scene where Nancy grieves for her murdered father is painful to watch), but without them, we wouldn't understand how hard-won are the feelings of pride and accomplishment as their school performs for the competition's judges. The built-in structure of the competition gives this documentary a clear and engrossing storyline, much like Spellbound or Mad Hot Ballroom, but the heartbreaking circumstances and the emotional openness of the three teenagers makes War/Dance even more compelling. In one particularly striking scene, Dominic talks to a captured rebel officer, hoping to learn if his brother is still alive. As they talk, the soldier--who's around the age Dominic's brother might be--tries to be helpful, and explains almost offhandedly why the brother is most likely dead. The casualness of this conversation, devoid of Hollywood histrionics, speaks volumes about how violence has infiltrated these people's daily lives. --Bret Fetzer
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - MUST SEE!
This is a remarkable movie.It's a documentary about children living in a refugee camp in Darfur.As difficult as their lives have been, they are incredibly committed and uplifted when they sing, dance, and play their musical instruments.The true stories of the children's lives are heart-wrenching.Their love of music and dance is genuine.The film is incredibly authentic -- it's a documentary -- but, it's not stuffy, it's fantastic.
Rating: 
- Just satisfactory
I was glad to watch this once, but for me it is certainly not a keeper. They had rich potential material and I felt that they covered it only rather superficially.
Their main point was believable -- these kids have been through hell and a musical competition in the capital was extremely important for their morale and self-esteem. I thought that was a wonderful point to make. It will stick in my mind.
But they used a lot of film to say this. There were endless shots of cute ... Read More
Rating: - War Dance
There wasn't a dry eye in the house when my Senior Residents and I watched this movie.The saddness then mixed with triumph was the most beautiful feeling in the world to us.You need to see this film if only to know just how fortunate we are here in the USA to have the freedoms we have.Thank you...for making such an important movie with a message.
Sally Stackhouse
Executive Resident Manager
SeaWind Seniors Apartments
Oxnard, CA
Rating: - Gut Wrenching & Inspirational!
You don't know me so I'm not going to pretend that my opinion is going to matter to you but I can honestly say that this is the best documentary I have ever seen. If you watch this movie and don't shed a tear, then you have no soul. The footage of Nancy and her mother visiting her father's grave site is gut wrenching and powerful beyond mere words. However, the message of hope and the healing power of music and dance is so inspirational that it is hard to believe that anyone who sees this film would ... Read More
Rating: - Watch. Listen. Learn.
Nominated at the 2008 Oscars in the Best Documentary category, it is easy to see why WAR DANCE was on top of that list. Although it lost out to Taxi To the Dark Side, War Dance need not hang its head.
Little known subjects are a great thing to learn about, and this is War Dance's biggest strength. The civil war in Uganda has raged for over 20 years, but few know what it's about or its effects on the population. One look at War Dance will give you some chilling insights.
Focusing ... Read More
- MUST SEE!This is a remarkable movie.It's a documentary about children living in a refugee camp in Darfur.As difficult as their lives have been, they are incredibly committed and uplifted when they sing, dance, and play their musical instruments.The true stories of the children's lives are heart-wrenching.Their love of music and dance is genuine.The film is incredibly authentic -- it's a documentary -- but, it's not stuffy, it's fantastic.
- Just satisfactoryI was glad to watch this once, but for me it is certainly not a keeper. They had rich potential material and I felt that they covered it only rather superficially.
Their main point was believable -- these kids have been through hell and a musical competition in the capital was extremely important for their morale and self-esteem. I thought that was a wonderful point to make. It will stick in my mind.
But they used a lot of film to say this. There were endless shots of cute ... Read More
- War DanceThere wasn't a dry eye in the house when my Senior Residents and I watched this movie.The saddness then mixed with triumph was the most beautiful feeling in the world to us.You need to see this film if only to know just how fortunate we are here in the USA to have the freedoms we have.Thank you...for making such an important movie with a message.
Sally Stackhouse
Executive Resident Manager
SeaWind Seniors Apartments
Oxnard, CA
- Gut Wrenching & Inspirational!You don't know me so I'm not going to pretend that my opinion is going to matter to you but I can honestly say that this is the best documentary I have ever seen. If you watch this movie and don't shed a tear, then you have no soul. The footage of Nancy and her mother visiting her father's grave site is gut wrenching and powerful beyond mere words. However, the message of hope and the healing power of music and dance is so inspirational that it is hard to believe that anyone who sees this film would ... Read More
- Watch. Listen. Learn.Nominated at the 2008 Oscars in the Best Documentary category, it is easy to see why WAR DANCE was on top of that list. Although it lost out to Taxi To the Dark Side, War Dance need not hang its head.
Little known subjects are a great thing to learn about, and this is War Dance's biggest strength. The civil war in Uganda has raged for over 20 years, but few know what it's about or its effects on the population. One look at War Dance will give you some chilling insights.
Focusing ... Read More
