Rebelle 2012

Komona a girl in SubSaharan Africa tells the story to her unborn child about her kidnapping by rebels and forced to join their bloody civil war. When she discovers a valuable intuition about the presence of the enemy she is elevated as a witch and favored by the rebel leader. However this special status threatens to be shortlived in this world of superstition and senseless brutality even as the ghosts of the war dead haunt her visions. However when a newfound friend convinces her to desert Komona finds escaping that brutal life is far from easy with its physical and spiritual consequences following her wherever she goes.

Review

Canadian screenwriter and director Kim Nguyen's third feature film which he wrote and coproduced is inspired by stories of real life child soldiers. It premiered In competition at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in 2012 was screened in the Special Presentations section at the 37th Toronto International Film Festival in 2012 was shot on location in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is a Canadian production which was produced by producers MarieClaude Poulin and Pierre Even. It tells the story about a twelveyearold girl named Komona who is kidnapped from her African village by a group of lawless soldiers called the great tigers recruited as one of their rebels and trained to become a participant in their war against the government. Komona is radically changed by the violence that invades her life but her ability to survive amazes her commander and he names her "War Witch".Subtly and engagingly directed by Canadian filmmaker Kim Nguyen this finely paced fictional tale which is narrated by the main character and mostly from her point of view draws an involving and heartrending portrayal of a 12yearold girl's transition from an ordinary girl to a soldier equipped with a deadly weapon and her relationship with an elder boy named Magician. While notable for it's naturalistic and atmospheric milieu depictions sterling cinematography by Canadian cinematographer Nicolas Bolduc and use of sound this characterdriven narrativedriven and humane drama about the loss of innocence the psychological effects of war survival and a fourteenyearold girl's internal conversation with the child she is about to give birth to depicts an incisive study of character.This romantic at times humorous and somewhat mysterious comingofage tale which was chosen as Canada's submission to the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 85th Academy Awards in 2013 and where brutality alters the mind of a person whom is forced into a life where death is lurking on every corner is impelled and reinforced by it's cogent narrative structure substantial character development reflective voiceover narration and the impressive acting performances by Congolese actress Rachel Mwanza and actor Serge Kanyinda in their debut feature film roles. A spiritual and tangible lovestory about the eternal power of life which gained among other awards the Silver Bear for Best Actress Rachel Mwanza at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival in 2012.