(2000 TV Movie)

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10/10
Breathtaking account of one of the most violent wars in Africa
KirstenVerdel19 May 2007
Having just come back from Sierra Leone a couple of weeks ago, 5 years after the brutal war ended, it was breathtaking to see this documentary. Not breathtaking because it was so beautiful, but because it was so brutal. I didn't even know there was live footage from the war in Salone. Now I do.

I saw many children last month in the West-African country when I was there, with their hands of legs chopped off. I couldn't imagine how this happened. Now I do.

This documentary shows all the brutal details of a senseless war that tore apart one of the most beautiful countries in the world: Sierra Leone. From 1991 until 2002 200.000 people were brutally slaughtered by either the rebels, the ECOMOG force from Nigeria that was supposed to be keeping the peace and the Civil Defense Force that was supposed to defend the civilians. 50.000 people were amputated. Many people were shot without trial, even without any real cause other than some vague suspicions. Some of these shootings you see in this documentary. It's raw, it's brutal, it's unforgettable and it made me cry.
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2/10
What a great movie
sirniyo3308 April 2009
The movie was a great movie which based on a book written in 1837.This film is a masterpiece in all aspects. Of course, it's not for those looking for action or a fast-paced plot -- this film allows you to meet and get to know the characters with their virtues and foibles. The cinematography is incredible and John Barry's score is matchless; one of the very few scores which would diminish a film if absent. Meryl Streep was robbed of the Oscar; her meticulous German/Danish accent was first-rate. If I had to name the weakest attribute of the film, it's the casting of Robert Redford as Denys. He did a fine job, and it was understandable that he was cast in that role, due to his changeability, but in reality, Denys was not American. Redford is a bit too all-American for this role, but it's a minor detraction. This film is my next purchase on DVD -- I've seen it dozens of times and I never tire of it.
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