Beasts of No Nation review
Based on the novel by Uzodinma Iweala, Beasts of No Nation is a frequently harrowing account of civil war and violent enslavement from the perspective of a child in modern Africa.
From early scenes in the bosom of his family, we get to see Agu (Abraham Attah) transition from a normal young boy to something else entirely – a soldier and a thug, a killer and a victim of terrible trauma.
It’s an eye opening journey, and that’s the most impressive thing about Beasts of No Nation, its unflinching gaze at the awful reality of child soldiers and the events which lead kids to become killers.
There’s nowhere to hide from this harrowing truth, and the film rarely shies away from portrayals of violence and more on the screen. It also toes a fine line in portraying the seductive appeal of power, of the small and weak emboldened by bullets and blades.
That draw is embodied in the character of the Commandant, as played by Idris Elba. He’s a hulking man above these children, full of charisma and fuelling the indoctrinating chants of his boys. It’s a complicated relationship, part commander, part father and with touches of more sinister elements, and his presence provides much of the structure of the film.
Director Cary Fukunaga (best known for helming True Detective season one) mounts a visually impressive production here, with some fanciful imagery mixed with frank depictions of warfare and its effects.
This is an important story to tell about a fact of life in some countries which we comfortably avoid, and it’s worth watching for that element alone. But the film itself has its issues, notably with pacing in its second hour as the cycle of violence starts to become repetitive.
Young Attah gives a committed performance as Agu but doesn’t really have a lot of subtext to work with from the rather plain script. Elba is as arresting as ever but that’s not necessarily a good thing, I found his presence oddly distracting in a sea of amateur and first-time performers.
On the more technical side, the dialogue isn’t always clear when the characters are speaking in various kinds of broken English and the content can be extreme at times – this isn’t one to watch with the family.
Beasts of No Nation is a film with a powerful message which isn’t quite matched by its content. There are strong scenes here, and good performances by the mostly young and inexperienced cast, but the litany of horror does become wearing long before the end.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
