WAR WITCH (REBELLE) | IMPACTFUL OSCAR NOMINEE

Rachel Mwanza as Komona in "War Witch"

As late as November 2012, new reports suggest that from the resurgence of violence in the Congo, there are "increasing widespread concerns amongst humanitarian organizations that some of those fighting on the front lines are child soldiers." Humanitarian groups estimate about 200,000 children are at risk of being abducted as child soldiers as people flee the area. Witnesses have told Human Rights Watch that most of the children used in the Congo conflict were abducted from their homes, from markets, or while walking to their farms.

With all of the Oscar buzz going on about films and fashion, we thought we'd chime about one of this year's "hidden gems", War Witch. Most riveting was the performance of the leading actress Rachel Mwanza, born in 1997 and abandoned by her parents as a child, Mwanza spent several years living as a street child in Kinshasa before being cast in Rebelle. In February 2013 she was granted a visa to allow her to attend the Academy Awards.

We wanted to highlight this film to continue raising the global community's awareness that the existence of child soldiers is still very real. Support of organizations making efforts to end it's existence is still very necessary.

 


SYNPOSIS
Komona (Rachel Mwanza) is only 12 years old when she is kidnapped by rebel soldiers and enslaved to a life of guerrilla warfare in the African jungle. Forced to commit unspeakable acts of brutality, she finds hope for survival in protective, ghost-like visions (inspiring a rebel chief to anoint her "War Witch"), and in a tender relationship with a fellow soldier named Magician (Serge Kanyinda). Together, they manage to escape the rebels' clutches, and a normal life finally seems within reach. But after their freedom proves short-lived, Komona realizes she must find a way to bury the ghosts of her past.

Coming Soon to Selected Theaters:
New York, NY: Angelika Film Center – opens March 1
New York, NY: Lincoln Plaza Cinema – opens March 1
Los Angeles, CA: Laemmle Royal Theatre – opens March 8
Encino, CA: Laemmle Town Center 5 – opens March 8
Pasadena, CA: Laemmle Playhouse 7 – opens March 8
Washington, DC: New African Films Festival @ AFI Silver Theatre – March 9 ONLY
Berkeley, CA: Rialto Elmwood 3 – opens March 15
San Francisco, CA: Roxie Theater – opens March 15
Seattle, WA: SIFF Cinema – opens March 15
Larkspur, CA: Lark Theater – opens March 15
Palm Springs, CA: Camelot Theatres – opens March 22
Chicago, IL: Music Box Theatre – opens March 22
Santa Cruz, CA: Nickelodeon Theatre – opens March 22
Phoenix, AZ: Harkins Shea 14 – opens March 22
Tucson, AZ: The Loft Cinema – opens March 22
Minneapolis, MN: The Film Society of Minneapolis/St. Paul – opens March 22
Daytona Beach, FL: Cinematique of Daytona – opens March 22
Boston, MA: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston – opens March 27
Houston, TX: Sundance Cinemas – opens March 29
Portland, OR: Living Room Theatres – opens March 29
Boca Raton, FL: Living Room Theatres – opens March 29
San Diego, CA: Reading Cinemas Gaslamp 15 – opens March 29
Miami, FL: Tower Theater – opens March 29
Lake Worth, FL: Lake Worth Playhouse – opens March 29
New Orleans, LA: Zeitgeist Arts Center – opens March 29
Salem, MA: Cinema Salem – opens March 29
St. Johnsbury, VT: Catamount Arts – opens March 29
Louisville, KY: Village 8 – opens March 29
Coral Gables, FL: Coral Gables Cinema – March 29-31
Wilmington, DE: Theater N at Nemours – March 29-31
Denver, CO: SIE FilmCenter – opens April 5
Little Rock, AR: Market Street Cinema – opens April 5
Lake Park, FL: Mos' Art Theatre – opens April 26-28
Memphis, TN: Memphis Brooks Museum of Art – April 7 ONLY
Boulder, CO: International Film Series at CU-Boulder – April 10 ONLY
Irvington, NY: Irvington Town Hall Theater – April 26 ONLY
Albuquerque, NM: Guild Cinema – April 26-28
Detroit, MI: Detroit Institute of Arts – June 14-16
Concord, NH: Red River Theatres – June 18 ONLY

Credits:
Michael Gregory, CBC News
www.tribecafilm.com
www.huffingtonpost.com