'Beasts Of No Nation' A Review

Beasts Of No Nation is a war drama based on the novel of the same name. In an unnamed West African country in an unspecified time a young boy Agu(Abraham Attah) is forced to become a child soldier after his father and brother are killed. Under the alternatively cruel and quasi-nurturing leadership of the charismatic Commandant(Idris Elba) Agu and other boys are indoctrinated into the hardships of war. They are forced to kill and witness atrocities.

The film is a bit uneven in the beginning until the Commandant is introduced. Once Elba appears on screen the film and the other actors seem to find their footing. Attah seems to settle into the performance as the story progresses, his comfort as an actor progressing with the constriction and misery of his character. Attah puts us right into the middle of this horrific nightmare, we feel the hopelessness, the despair. Agu has one friend Strika played by Emmanuel Nii Adom Quaye who gives an incredible totally silent performance. Elba has the most complicated role, layers which he plays artfully and almost casually. We understand the allure of the Commandant, the reassurance he offers, his appeal despite his savagery. There is a scene of inferred abuse towards Agu perpetrated by the Commandant which seems heavy handed, undermining the ambiguity of the Commandant but that may have been a choice instigated by source material faithfulness.

Visually the film is vivid and rich. Bold unconventional color choices and editing techniques highlight the psychology of the characters. Risks are taken with the cinematography but ultimately serve to elevate rather than distract.

Difficult and harrowing but immersive. Important if not pleasant.

See It.