Thursday 8th Oct – ‘Beasts of No Nation’
‘Beasts of No Nation’ tells the story of a young boy, Agu, who is forced to join a group of African rebel soldiers, led by the fearsome ‘Commandant’, played by Idris Elba. I came to the ‘Luther’ party rather late and so was unaware of just how good an actor Idris Elba was for far too long. If it were ever in doubt, his ability here is writ large. Elba is quite simply mesmerising as the leader of a group of rebels in an unnamed West African country. His is a nuanced screen monster. Just as you think you are beginning to understand his warlord, a scene comes up where he leads his troops into battle, which makes blatant his insanity. Then, just as you are accepting this insane version of the character, the film adds a further twist, where Idris uses the lead character for his own sexual gratification and we perceive that he is an even darker monster.
Interestingly, in the Q&A after the film had been shown, the Director noted that he had considered removing the scene, so as not to enflame the considerable prejudice which already exists against homosexuality in Africa. In discussion with the writer, however, he had decided to retain the moment, as it was an oft-repeated experience of child soldiers and a further example of the way such warlords exert control and fear over their recruits and, as such, they felt that it ought not to be glossed over. As good as Elba is, however, the film really belongs to young Abraham Attah who, as Agu, wins our hearts early on with his cheeky sense of humour and who then proceeds to take us on a horrifying journey through his transformation into a dead-eyed child soldier.