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
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There are movies that finish, you stare at the screen for a few seconds, and you don't even know what to say. Beasts of No Nation was that kind of movie for me. It was so emotional for me, I was so emotional, after I finished watching it, I don’t know if it was a true life movie that happened exactly like that, but I know there are people that have that exact same dreadful experience that makes the movie seem so real.
I went into it knowing that it was about a young boy caught in a civil war, but knowing the premise and actually watching it are two completely different things.
The story is about Agu, a young boy whose life is destroyed by war and who is eventually pulled into the world of a group of fighters led by the Commandant. The most painful part of the film is watching Agu’s childhood disappear piece by piece.
Idris Elba as the Commandant? My Gosh! He gives one hell of a performance, is their any character this man cant play? He can be charismatic, funny and almost fatherly one moment, then terrifyingly controlling the next. That contradiction is what makes the character so fascinating. He's not presented as some cartoon villain who wakes up every morning thinking about how evil he can be. He's a person who understands exactly how to manipulate vulnerable young people but the person who really carries the movie is Abraham Attah as Agu. For a young actor, his performance is incredible. You can see the confusion, fear, anger and attempts to make sense of everything happening around him. Agu isn't born into this life, he is pushed into it. 
People can be victims and perpetrators at different points in the same story. Sometimes the person who has been hurt becomes capable of hurting someone else. “Hurt people hurt people”
Beasts of No Nation isn't just about soldiers or war. It's about what happens when a society loses itself to anarchy. When the rules disappear, when institutions collapse and when children are left to survive in circumstances they never chose, humanity itself starts becoming difficult to recognize.
This isn't an easy movie to recommend by saying, “You'll have fun watching it.” You most likely won't but if you want a film that makes you think long after the credits roll, this is definitely one of them.
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