When we talk about a movie that doesn't just entertain you but gets you to think, Beast of No Nation is definitely amongst the top. After watching this particular movie, I can't help but find myself thinking about it for days; the story cuts across the danger of war and what it turns the society into. As we can see from the life of Agu, whose peaceful childhood was cut short as it was destroyed by war, he didn't just lose his family; he was even taken by the rebel group and was ultimately turned into a child soldier by the commandant of the rebel soldiers. I felt terribly sad for him and other kids that have to go through all of those, not to talk of their nation and the people at large.
One of the things that got me a lot about the movies is how they show how a person can literally transform from being a good and decent person to become a ruthless person capable of committing terrible things. We saw that in the life of Agu, who, from being a peaceful child playing on the streets, got reshaped from an innocent boy to become a terror to the society. All of these happen not because he wanted it; instead, he was just cut in the circumstances, and in his bid to survive, he had to join others, and before we know it, he's already into something that's far beyond his control. All of these happen during his fear, drugs, continuous exposure to violence, manipulation, and, in the end, in a position he could possibly not have imagined he'd be prior to the war.
I can't help but feel disgusted whenever I see the rebel soldier's commandant, because he obviously makes his vulnerable children, and yet he uses that same vulnerability to gain their loyalty and then turn them into his own weapon. We know all these kids have been displaced by the war, and then he gathered them, presenting himself as a father figure, but at the same time he's leading them through the dark path of drug abuse and violence, amongst many others. This particular part of the movie may make me begin to think of how humans can easily be manipulated when they've lost everything, and for this case, they're children that get to grasp the difference between what's right and what's wrong.
Talking about something I find extraordinary about the movie, it's how they were about to portray the psychological effects of war on the people and the society at large. This is made evident in not just the destruction but also mental and emotional damage. The main character, Agu, can be seen on several occasions struggling to contain what he has done and who he has become, which made the story feel so real, although painful.
The movie Beast of No Nation is a powerful and heartbreaking movie, which reminds us of the fact that children's place is never in the soldier. No, to forget that in every war, there are innocent lives that are being affected. To be honest, it's not a movie one can say they're enjoying watching because of the storyline; however, I still think it's important because it helps us question the essence of war and the reality of the effect it can have on the people, properties, and society at large.
Overall I must say that Agu and the commandant did impressively well in portraying their role so excellently; they did feel into their role so well and make it so emotionally believable. Have you seen the movie? If yes, what do you think about it?
Image source for first and second photos.
Rating: 80/100
