Customer Reviews
Unbelievable triumph of the human spirit! 
2008-06-17
This is a MUST-see movie. On one side is pain, the hardship, deprivation, fear living in northern Uganda - afraid to farm the fields because of rebels. But on the other side is the living spirit of children who dance and sing and make music, for themselves and for many many others. What is unbelievable is how these children (and adults working with them) are able to rise above the pain and live, truly live, because of music.
Incredible Movie 2008-05-31
moving, inspiring, incredible...
I was trying to tell some friends about this documentary... and it's impossible to really convey the depth, lessons, and struggle this movie depicts without watching it yourself. This movie is fantastic.
Tremendously inspiring! 2008-05-19
"War Dance" is a must-see movie! These children have been through so much suffering! To see them turn all their energies towards winning a prize in the dance competition, as they put the horrors of all they'd been through 'on hold' for a season of time is a wonderful thing! I loved it even as I wept inside at what they had had to endure.
Changed my life 2008-05-18
I went with a friend who got tickets at the last minute during Sundance. We heard it might be an anti-war movie about the U.S.'s involvement in Iraq (or something like that...). Turned out to be about Ugandan children.
I have never cried so hard during a movie, and I wanted to leave because it was so tragic. But, it was also hopeful and extremely well-made. Probably the best documentary I've ever seen.
No one moved except to breath and cry in the packed theater in Park City.
I couldn't wait to get home to donate money to their organization and other charities!
outstanding film 2008-05-17
This is an outstanding film. It handles a difficult situation in an uplifting, moving way. I work with children whose families are involved in Family Court for neglect and/or abuse. Children are amazingly rescilient and hopeful. War/Dance demonstrates that in a beautiful way.
War Dance 2008-07-21
There wasn't a dry eye in the house when my Senior Residents and I watched this movie. The saddness then mixed with triumph was the most beautiful feeling in the world to us. You need to see this film if only to know just how fortunate we are here in the USA to have the freedoms we have. Thank you...for making such an important movie with a message.
Sally Stackhouse
Executive Resident Manager
SeaWind Seniors Apartments
Oxnard, CA
Gut Wrenching & Inspirational! 2008-07-03
You don't know me so I'm not going to pretend that my opinion is going to matter to you but I can honestly say that this is the best documentary I have ever seen. If you watch this movie and don't shed a tear, then you have no soul. The footage of Nancy and her mother visiting her father's grave site is gut wrenching and powerful beyond mere words. However, the message of hope and the healing power of music and dance is so inspirational that it is hard to believe that anyone who sees this film would not be moved. This film will change lives, it is that powerful. See it and believe.
Watch. Listen. Learn. 2008-06-28
Nominated at the 2008 Oscars in the Best Documentary category, it is easy to see why WAR DANCE was on top of that list. Although it lost out to Taxi To the Dark Side, War Dance need not hang its head.
Little known subjects are a great thing to learn about, and this is War Dance's biggest strength. The civil war in Uganda has raged for over 20 years, but few know what it's about or its effects on the population. One look at War Dance will give you some chilling insights.
Focusing on three children within the Patongo refugee camp of northern Uganda, all of the kids have lost at least one parent, sibling or family member to the horrors of the war, and have been forced into this government protected camp for basic survival. Life is dank, depressing, and full of fear. Until one day the children discover that their little school has qualified for the finals at the annual Kampala Music Festival. And with them will go Dominic, a boy forced into being a child soldier for the rebels and desperately trying to locate his lost brother. A gripping scene between himself and a rebel leader tells Dominic much of what he already suspected. Nancy, a tough young lady, will go the Kampala, too. And with her she brings the hopes and dreams of her father who was hacked to death by machetes (the visit to his grave is sure to have many reaching for the tissue box). Then we have Rose, the soft-spoken one who is obviously in a funk of depression. But to watch her dance is to see the lights burst forth from her eyes.
The documentary is exceptionally well put together. The cinematography of the surrounding jungle is awe-inspiring, as are the tough scenes where children are put in front of the camera and asked to explain how they feel ("I can't wait to see what peace looks like," says one of them as they prepare to compete in Kampala).
Shown as a sort of David and Goliath tale, one can't help but see the infiltration of Christianity on these people's lives, too. Their clothing, their "prayers", and many other aspects speak to the westernization of their culture. One of the competition categories is even called "Western Choral Music." But the big winner in the categories is obviously the native dance sequence where Dominic shines as the xylophone player, Nancy dances and spins with delight, and Rose comes back to life. The other schools, initially sneering at this "tiny school from the north", begin to respect them.
But can these first timers win anything at a festival where they compete against schools of much greater renown? You'll have to watch and find out. And you should. The tales of torture mixed with the joy of music and dance are something everyone should see. And you might even learn something you didn't know about in another part of the world.
War/Dance 2008-06-28
War Dance National Geographic cinematographers accompanied these excellent doc filmmakers to the dangerous region of Uganda to film these heroic children who were about to compete, against all odds, in the national music competition. Its a real life Rocky story set in Uganda. You can't help but be on the edge of your chair throughout the film. The ultimate message is that music has great healing powers for us all.
Will bring tears to your eyes 2008-06-23
I invited a friend to see this movie at a small theater by my house because she and I both have a heart for Africa. We sat in the empty theater, moved by the stories and weeping during the hard parts.
Shortly after, I left for Tanzania (Africa) and spent 3 months working with orphans and vulnerable children (living with aids / affected by aids). If you haven't experienced African culture, you might not fully understand the families, the children nor the music competition (I saw a comment that talked bad about the families being so harsh).
Africa is torn apart by the aids epidemic, poverty, famine and war. And the the children are left with little to no hope. They realize that their one key to success is education but even that is limited to the rich or sponsored children since "public" school still needs to be paid for.
This documentary does well to showcase how the children of Uganda are affected by this horrible war and how they have such a hope in a music competition so they can be seen as more than children of war.
After watching this documentary, I recommend researching the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army), this war, northern Uganda and going to the film makers web page. Documentaries such as this are making changes to a country that needs our help. The more we are aware, the better it will get.
