Damn Netflix. DAMN. Yes I know Beasts of No Nation has been out for some time on Netflix, but I just got around to watching it. I’m wholly unsurprised by Netflix producing high quality TV series but movies too?
Beasts of No Nation follows a young, prepubescent boy named Agu (played masterfully by Ghanian actor Abraham Attah) who finds himself forced to become a child soldier as his unnamed West African nation is torn apart by war.
What first surprised me about the movie is probably one of the more tactful representations of the conflicts in the region. Africa is a gold mine (no pun intended) for poverty porn. The best films about Africa have been the ones that use a real life event for its framework (Hotel Rwanda for example) while the ones that work from fiction are decidedly lower in quality (Blood Diamond).
Yet in spite of being fictional in nature, Beasts of No Nation is really even handed in its depiction of the continent. Agu’s family isn’t wealthy, but they have a stable family. He plays sports and attends school and is a deeply religious boy. The landscape alternates between well-furnished houses, shops, tin shanties, and endless jungle. Despite the savagery displayed in the film, I never came away thinking Africa was savage overall.
That’s something.
Another part of what makes the film seem so raw and powerful is the lack of extended dialogue, a huge gamble for a film that grapples with philosophy and morality. After his enrollment into the Native Defense Force (rebels, for common parlance) Agu’s spoken dialogue almost disappears. He gets the occasional voiceover whenever there’s a time lapse but for the most part he is the “window” through which the viewer witnesses his situation. It is truly jarring to see a 10 year old (I’m just guessing here) with an AK-47 walking speechlessly through a raid as he sees slaughter and rape abound.
When I first started writing this, I wanted to spread the praise evenly among the entire cast saying no role truly stood out but I lied; Idris Elba steals this show. Abraham Atta was arguably the stronger actor, but Elba’s role as NDF battalion leader “Commandant” was written exceptionally.
Remember, this is a man who has convinced children to fight against the government of their country. A man who has convinced children to rape, kill and loot almost indiscriminately based on some deeply flawed ideology. Watching him condition these boys masterfully in the same way a parent may condition their child to sing the alphabet or share their toys is terrifying and Elba’s methodical, commanding voice only adds to the effect.
The only flaw I have to comment on is that because Agu is the window through which the viewer sees the world, the film sometimes finds excuses for him to be in situations where his input/reaction is of no real importance. It’s a weird tone shift because in the first half of the film is all about Agu and the second half we take a step back and see all of the characters while still limiting Agu as our viewpoint.
That aside, this is a fantastic film and it’s on Netflix. It’s arguably the best film depicting the child soldier situation in Africa while still remaining respectful.
Go watch it, and bring tissues.
