WAR DANCE

War Dance is a documentary film released in 2007 that tells the story of three children: Nancy, a choral music singer; Rose, a dancer; and Dominic, a xylophone player. They are members of the Acholi ethnic group and living in a remote refugee camp in Patongo, in northern Uganda. The camp is under military protection from a resistance army commanded by a terrorist group that has been in conflict with the government for decades. In 2005, the camp’s primary school won a regional music competition and went to Kampala to take part in the annual national competition. Over the course of three months, the documentary production team lived on the camp, following the three youngsters around whilst they prepared for the big event. The film offers the children’s perspective on the complexity of war and is a compelling testimony to the healing power of art and creative expression. It is wonderful to be able to witness this joyful part of the cultural life of children who, though victimised and traumatised, fight to survive and to build a better life in a rather troubled part of the world.

The film premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Best Directing Documentary Award. It was also nominated for an Oscar for Best Documentary in 2008 and received an Emmy Award as Best Documentary and Best Cinematography in 2010, in addition to many other awards.

Xonguila highly recommends this film, which was written and directed by Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine and produced by Susan MacLaury of Shine Global.