Denmark / Germany 2023, 105 min, English, French, Acholi and Luo, Hebrew & English subtitles
This case, brought before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, is unusual. The defendant, Dominic Ongwen, was only nine years old when he was abducted by the “Lord’s Resistance Army”—a guerrilla organization that committed atrocities against the people of northern Uganda for decades. Raised and trained under the tutelage of the cult-like group’s leader, Joseph Kony, who turned him into a “war machine,” Ongwen eventually began to carry out and even command the organization’s horrific operations. In the restrained and polite courtroom atmosphere, one cannot ignore the troubling questions: is Ongwen himself not a victim? Is he liable for his actions despite being brainwashed? And what kind of justice is about to be served here? Those who experienced the events firsthand offer surprising answers.
Previous Festivals: CPH:DOX, Hot Docs, One World, Visions Du Reel, Movies That Matter (Grand Jury Documentary Award)
Africa Around the world Award Winners Democracy International Competition Official Website