Without reading them, the audience knows what Dominic did because of the revealing expression on his face. Yet, even with these haunting experiences, Dominic's youthfully jubilant smile pervades the screen for the rest of the film as the Fines focus on the nationwide event that provides Dominic and kids like him an escape from the everyday reality of war. Patongo Primary School has qualified for the renowned Kampala Music Festival, a contest that pits school against school, region against region; which, in effect, renders the refugee camp residents the underdogs of the competition. To the rest of the country, Patongo is a place of squalor with no running water and no chance of producing festival champions, but, to Dominic, it is the home that gave him the gift of music and a way to forget his painful childhood. As Dominic strives to be the best xylophone player in all of Uganda, Rose, a dancer, and Nancy, a choir singer, reveal their encounters with the rebel army with opposing yet complementary attitudes. Rose, beautifully subdued yet seemingly filled with silent strength, speaks softly into the camera about losing her parents and being thrown into the care of her indifferent aunt. But she becomes strangely imposing when she speaks of the music festival with an enthusiasm that overcomes the depressing atmosphere of the camp. In contrast to Rose but burdened with an equally troubling story, Nancy talks hurriedly to the audience, surprisingly cheery in spite of losing some of her family to the rebels. But in this is place where hope runs in short supply, Nancy's high spirits melt away when the 13-year-old visits her father's makeshift grave. The directors were able to capture this poignant moment while threats of attack loomed all around them is a feat in itself. They demonstrate true storytelling skills by creating an uplifting documentary that, despite the grim facts presented, manages to inspire, instilling in the audience a sense of responsibility and a dose of hope. Although Dominic, Rose and Nancy tell their tales of horror, the crux of the film is their fight to get to Kampala to show all of Uganda the endless potential of Patongo's refugees. The film has already moved audiences at Sundance, where it was awarded the Documentary Directing prize earlier this year, but its true accomplishments lie in carrying out the mission of Shine Global, a non-profit corporation dedicated to ending the abuse and exploitation of children worldwide, through the production of documentaries and other media. As the company's first film, War/Dance has won the respect of other humanitarian efforts such as the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) because of its potential to inspire social and political change in a place where children need it the most. With this documentary, Nix and Fine have summoned the spotlight back to the children of Africa: Their interweaving of each child's gut-wrenching story with their heartwarming journey to Kampala creates a mix that is one part tragedy but three parts triumph. War Dance hits theaters in LA and NYC on November 2, 2007. Images copyright © 2006 Think Film Company Inc. All Rights Reserved.
WarDance Sundown
Andrea Nix and Sean Fine | 
