War Dance

There are lots of criticisms one could level at this film: its narrative line resembles nothing so much as *Drumline* and *Bring It On*, it aestheticizes (some would say "exploits") poverty and violence, it fails to contextualize the dance competition in politics, and - in some ways - the documentary methods in the film are old-fashioned. For all that...this is an undeniably beautiful, energetic and uplifting film.

At times very moving, but it often feels as if it is showing a version of Ugandan life that has been staged for or by the film makers. The children's stories however are heartbreaking. It's a shame that more time wasn't given to the ongoing problems in the country that force them to still live in refugee camps, but I imagine the film maker's government liasons wouldn't allow them to make that kind of documentary.

I couldn't shake off the feeling that the words were put into mouths of these children.

"Filmmakers Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine continue the Hollywood insult of looking at Africa as if it were a high-fashion runway." - Ed Gonzalez

Some harrowing subject matter (plus dancing), but as a documentary too clearly rehearsed for its own good.