There aren’t a lot of films that make me really reflect on the state of our humanity--ones that stop you and sit you down to make you think about the world as a whole. Cary Joji Fukunaga who helmed the first (and best) season of "True Detective" delivered a horrific masterpiece when he released "Beasts of No Nation" on Netflix.
Never mind the media uproar concerning the fact that a film was released on the streaming site, “potentially changing the notion of going to the movies.” Fukunaga did something with Beasts that is rarely seen in mainstream cinema, he told a war story from the point of view of a child.
Not just any child, an African boy named Agu who’s about 10 played by the absolutely amazing and first time actor Abraham Attah. The film centers around the young boy’s experience as a child soldier in war torn Africa and is truly heartbreaking as we see Agu go from carefree kid to ruthless soldier to what I consider a veteran with severe PTSD.
The reason I say that Agu is a veteran is because that is exactly what he is after enduring such extreme brutality. "Beasts of No Nation" is in no way a light movie, the first 15-20 minutes of happiness we see quickly dissolves into one invaded village after another.
Idris Elba plays “The Commandant” who is most definitely not a father to the boys, but very much a leader. I’m not saying he’s a good leader as I could never after witnessing his multiple atrocities against the villagers, but mainly the numerous innocent young men. Casting in this film was truly phenomenal, and Attah’s emotional range is unbelievable.
Fukunaga has somehow created his own version of "Apocalypse Now" and melded it with Uzodinma Iweala’s novel. He’s truly at his best when he is writing and directing. The cinematography in this film in particular isn’t over done, Fukunaga chooses his moments wisely in showcasing visuals. The red clay that appears at various points in the film almost goes unnoticed as the narrative progresses and your main concern becomes the safety of the children. The symbolism is it holds is one you may have to interpret for yourself as a viewer, many will say it’s Agu’s mind being consumed by violence, but I like to think of it as the last little ounce of humanity that is left inside him. Watch the film and the moments the scenery turns rose colored and you’ll understand.
There’s a lot of films coming out right now as it’s getting closer and closer to awards season, but Beasts is just a complete standout in every way. Cary Joji Fukunaga purposefully teamed with Netflix, as I honestly don’t think this film would have gotten a lot of play in theaters. The promotion for this film was done mainly through Netflix’s actual site, Twitter, and word of mouth. It caused a real stir and you know what, everyone has a Netflix account. Watching it just makes sense, it’s not costing you anything.
This film was really hard for me to watch. I don’t have children, but I have younger brothers and watching children take on such a barbaric role that many have not chosen is a harsh reality check. You can’t watch this film and not think about the state of our planet and the many wars that wage around it. Beasts is a true film, and if you know me you know I make a distinction between “films” and “movies.” Aueturism is at an all-time high here and if you’ve got two hours and a strong will, sit down and really have something make you feel.
