War Dance Moves You

By Laura Castelli

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of seeing a film screened the Search For Common Ground Summer Film Series, called War Dance. When the title first comes to mind, I related it to the rain dance, a  Native American tradition and so I was not expecting a film about a refugee camp in Northern Uganda. This documentary follows  children and youth from the Patongo refugee camp school in Northern Uganda to Kampala where they compete in the annual National Music Competition—along with 20,000 other schools. The film had a good mix of fact and raw emotion as well as an uplifting feeling.
 
We learned of the background of some of the children, how they had come to the camp, either because a parent had died, rebels had raided their homes or they themselves were abducted. They shared their stories of how they watched their parents die or had to bury them later, and some even killed innocent people before they’d reached their teens. Some take on responsibility that most in the West are accustomed to their parents handling. The girls take care of all their siblings, feeding, washing and still go to school.

A scene in particular that brought home their youth, was when Nancy, one of the girls, went to see her father’s grave for the first time–four years after his murder. She crumbled to the ground beside him and cried and screemed–like the little girl she is, all her pent-up emotions pouring out. At that moment I gained even more respect for her and these children, because they do not have the opportunity to mourn due to responsibilities forced upon them. And although their stories contained horrific details and sadness, the great thing is this film shows these children in a different light as well. It shows their excitement and hope for the future. It shows their triumph over the dismal situation they are still in and how a common goal can lift them from the dark place they live.
 
The children live for the music they participate in at school, they want to show they can be good at something and they want to create a different name for themselves. Instead of being known as Patongo, the school in the war zone, they strive to be known as Patongo, the champions of music in all of Uganda. With much practice and even some help from professionals of Kampala these children perfect their talent and eventually head to Kampala for the competition. Again feelings were mixed, as they carried the excitement of exploring a new place and the anxiety of competing; the fear of failing and letting down both their school and their tribe: Acholi.

Although this story is not one that Hollywood could have controlled, there is still a happy ending at the end –Although I was happy just seeing them go to Kampala. Upon arriving in the capital, the children face insults from those of other parts of Uganda who assume all of these children are part of the rebels and therefore, do not deserve respect. Without giving too much away, I can say that they prove their detractors wrong. As you travel this journey with them, you fall in love with these kids, who have found something to keep smiling about and who haven’t let their spirits be extinguished.

 
For me, War Dance showed a whole new side of Northern Uganda. Like most I have rarely thought beyond the negatives of the region. I was delighted to discover, however, that not all life had been stolen yet. A really great film, I would suggest it to anyone who wants to see the resilience of these people and the realities of their lives.