BEASTS OF NO NATION: PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON A MILITARISTIC AFRICA

In film, portrayals of African warlords have become a cliche, almost as much a cartoon as a Bond villain. Military fatigues, a cigar, and a gun are all that are required. They are over-the-top and little time is spent on developing a full character, showing motivations and, in the end, examining the deeper cost of living in a society with unchecked militarism on a local level.

Abraham Attah and Idris Elba in BEASTS OF NO NATION

Abraham Attah and Idris Elba in BEASTS OF NO NATION

Partnering with Netflix for their first foray into feature filmmaking, director Cary Fukunaga (True Detective, season one) has made a new movie that will change minds forever. In Beasts of No Nation, militants raid the West African village of a young man named Agu (newcomer Abraham Attah), tear apart his family, and kill his father. He is forced to join a group of rebel fighters led by a ruthless warlord known only as Commandant, played by an incendiary Idris Elba. Agu’s simple life is instantly changed forever as he becomes part of Commandant’s battalion of jungle-based child soldiers, armed with machine guns and grenade launchers, and existing in a world where fresh trauma is easily manipulated into murderous rage.

The Mill Valley Film Festival is very proud to be screening this powerful film with Mr. Fukunaga and Abraham Attah in attendance.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15  •  7:45 PM
CENTURY CINEMA CORTE MADERA