Thoughtful, sobering, hopeful, despairing, inspirational, depressing, and just in time for the holidays comes Darfur Now, a documentary about genocide in the Sudan.
Darfur Now (2007)
Genre: Education/General Interest
Starring: Don Cheadle
Screenwriter: Ted Braun
Producer: Cathy Schulman, Don Cheadle, Mark Jonathan Harris
Composer: Graeme Revell
Reviews
Darfur Now has drawn criticism for its artless construction, and while it's true, he knows to step aside and let the passion of his subjects shine through.
The title says Darfur Now -- not Darfur Then, not Darfur Sometime. But the question it asks emphatically is, Darfur Now What?
The depressing subtext is that even with detailed proof of ongoing genocide, it takes movie stars to get to the movers and shakers, and to get worthy movies like this one into theaters.
This is a feel-good film for activists, which barely scratches the surface.
A rallying call to aid Darfur and an uplifting case study in the power of individuals to effect change.
Darfur Now does one thing other documentaries on the region in western Sudan haven't done so far: It offers hope that something substantive may be done about the Darfur genocide.
If its explanation of Sudan's politics and history is rudimentary, Darfur Now maintains an effectively intense focus on the necessary work to save actual people in Darfur.
Though well-intentioned, Braun's documentary never captures the emotional heart of this enormous tragedy and fails to ignite the passion he so obviously wants us to feel.
By showing the struggles and efforts of about half a dozen people, it puts a human face on the tragedy.
In movie making, as in life, it's not enough to mean well. The real challenge is in being meaningful.
By concentrating on good people dedicated to relieving the crisis, it's almost upbeat.
At 99 minutes, the documentary presents a quick but thorough lesson.
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