lystn

The horrifying and heartbreaking tales of war and destruction in certain African nations have often prompted empathy and concern. So it’s hardly surprising that the premise has been adopted in films, television shows, and even in video games over the years. Films such as The Last King of Scotland, Hotel Rwanda, and Blood Diamond have captured the tragedies as sombre reminders of those who’ve endured the ravages of war and political strife across the world. However, few films have focused on the plight of ‘child soldiers’ who are often employed in conflicts in some war-ravaged countries in Africa. And Beasts of No Nation is one such film. The film is narrated from the perspective of a child soldier from an unnamed African nation. His tragic journey from his village to joining a rebel militia group is captured with great attention to detail by director Cary Joji Fukunaga. Fukunaga is credited with directing the critically-acclaimed first season of True Detective and the latest James Bond film No Time To Die. Beasts of No Nation won several awards and was well received in various film festivals for its compelling narrative, visuals, screenplay, and performances. The film stars Abraham Attah as the young child soldier Agu, while British star Idris Elba plays the sadistic Commandant in the film. The film highlights the various atrocities and injustice thousands of children face in Africa on a daily basis, and how they are forced to join armed militia groups. The film also triggers a discussion about trauma, mental health, and how the rest of the world has turned a blind eye to these atrocities. There are certain themes from the movie which are similar to the ones in legendary video-game developer Hideo Kojima’s, critically-acclaimed Metal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain.So that’s our Lost and Found film for today and we hope you’re excited to check it out. Beasts of No Nation is available to stream on Netflix. I shall be back again with another episode until then it's your host Nikhil signing off.