FIRST PLACE REVIEW
Jansen Cumbie, Dorchester Academy (St. George, S.C.)

“It disgusts and inspires.” Before any video is shown, before any speech is heard, these four words are shown across the screen on a stark black background. Followed are clips of young children. Children who are starving. Children strewn across the floor like garbage, sleeping in overcrowded rooms. Children with guns in hand. This is “Invisible Children.” It disgusts. It inspires. It’s completely real.

“Invisible Children” is the documentary of three teenage boys with a sole quest to inform people of the war in Sudan. As a film, it is not to entertain; it is to educate, to attain a goal. However, students need not cringe at the use of the word “documentary” being thrown around. The three teens are able to offer a perspective to which the youth can relate, letting the opening interviews show how they’re just normal kids with an important mission.

The film is fairly low budget, with amateur filming techniques and cheap equipment used throughout. This hardly detracts from the watching of the movie, instead offering a heightened sense of reality. Interviews take place in a candlelit hallway in a muddy room, softly lighting the face of a young boy doing homework. Not only are the filmmakers able to establish a connection between the American teens and viewers, but also through the youth of Sudan. In the interview, the young boy discusses how he wants happiness, how he longs to be a teacher, and even goes on to debate whether the death of Tupac was real.

However, “Invisible Children” extends far from interviews with the citizens of Sudan. In one scene, the teens have to get in a car and drive over speeds of 100 miles per hour in order to escape from a group of rebels. Once again, the action is not used as an entertainment device, but to invoke a sense of fear and reality. If the aforementioned scenes don’t put things into perspective, “Invisible Children” is packed with many other things to show the intensity of the situation in Sudan. There is a break in dialogue halfway through the movie, dedicating five minutes to show the causalities of the war. Instead of speech, moving music is played while clips of young children are shown, with short blocks of text briefly explaining their story. A 16-year-old girl. Pregnant. Raped. A brief shot of a young boy with only one leg, but many scars. Scenes like these are ones that make a huge impact.

In brief, “Invisible Children” possesses the ability to hit the emotions hard. The filmmakers have been able to establish a level of connection and reality that is rarely seen in this day and age. Does it disgust? Possibly. Does it inspire? Most definitely.

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SECOND PLACE REVIEW
Lizzy Means, Dutch Fork HS (Irmo, S.C.)

Maybe it was the horror stories of children being abducted from their own homes. Or perhaps, it was the memories of friends being murdered by the rebels. But mostly it was the hopeful smiles that children in Uganda managed to put on their faces every day, despite the burdens of their past, that made “Invisible Children” leave such an impact.

The film not only tells the typical story of “those-less-fortunate-than-us,” but takes the viewer to a different world entirely. Although it begins with three teens seeking to find a story as they journey to Africa, the movie soon evolves into a documentary of a real life catastrophe. In Uganda, a practically unknown crisis is occurring as the reporters dig to find the stories of the Africans’ haunted pasts and continuing fears for their own safety.

The film draws attention to a rebel group that has long been terrorizing and attacking villages in Uganda under the blanket of night. The stories described in detail by children are heart wrenching, as they remember the nights they were abducted, the nights their families were lost. It alerts the world of the war taking place that is virtually unknown to most civilization.

Most likely “Invisible Children” will have an astounding impact on viewers, whether it be the faces of victims of rape, the conversion of 7-year-olds into soldiers, or the nightmares that are relived at night by those attacked by the rebels. The documentary is compiled in such a way as to expose a tragic story, yet still with a bit of gleaming hope.

Despite the tragic pasts that almost all of the Ugandans have, the men, women and children still manage ear-to-ear grins on their faces. They still have enough spirit left in them to dance around with the people who have become their family. They still have enough hope to pray that there is an end in sight.

However, this is not to say the film is uplifting. There are the inspiring moments that make you think about making the very best of every situation, but the tone of the movie is very intense. At one point, a boy tells a story of losing his best friends to the rebels, which sends him into uncontrollable tears. Then there are the disturbing images of rebels who brainwash mere children into becoming murders. They are trained to kill and if they do not, they will suffer that fate.

To say the least, this is very unsettling piece, which was intentionally made to stir to action in all who watch it. The purpose is to inform, and that feat was accomplished. So few are even aware that this tragedy is taking place in our world. This documentary showed the lives of those haunted by the rebels.

The film does not leave the viewer feeling helpless, though. There is a movement taking place that is raising awareness of the genocide in Africa. “Invisible Children” will touch the hearts of those watching and inspire viewers to help make a difference in the lives of those who suffer from this crisis in Uganda.

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THIRD PLACE REVIEW
Leah Yorston, Dutch Fork HS (Irmo, S.C.)

The children of our society are considered priceless. They are valued, embraced and provided with endless opportunities. They are seen as the bright and shining elements of the future. But most importantly, they are seen.

“Invisible Children” is a mind-blowing documentary detailing the inconceivably treacherous lives of our children who are forces to live in fear of merciless rebels terrorizing their warring nation of Sudan. They are abducted, brainwashed and trained to fight as an army of child-soldiers, and executed upon resistance. Children ranging in age anywhere from five to twelve are all in danger of these armies. They live unprotected. They live unseen.

This documentary was initially planned to be a small investigative report executed by three young journalists. However, upon their arrival in Africa, they realized at once that the situation required a massive and immediate response. They saw an opportunity and a need for a movement. They knew they had the desire, time and the resources to aid in the fight for the lives of these children, the seemingly unbearable lives of these children.

The film closely profiles a selected few of these children, getting more personal details of their lives and their suffering. They speak of the horrible violence they have seen and the constant fear of losing their friends, families and their own lives. Each and every child is branded with scars, both emotional and physical, caused by countless atrocities they have endured.

One scene in particular depicts a small group of young boys, friends and brothers, who sleep in the flooded basement of an old hospital, hiding from the imminent torment of the rebel abductors. One of the young boys suffers somewhat of an emotional breakdown and begins to cry uncontrollably when recounting the story of his lost brother, who was murdered by rebel soldiers. The humanity of this film peaks at this point, tears swell and emotions of sympathy, anger and confusion course and rage through the body of the viewer.

This powerful documentary ultimately accomplishes much more than it was initially intended to. It started a movement. Progress is being made in Sudan because of the efforts of these three young reporters. This film brings hope and inspiration to all those who see it. It provides the people of our society an outlet, a vehicle for change. It makes demands and leaves no room for excuses. “Invisible Children” shows us that we, too, have the desire, time and certainly the resources to help make difference in the lives of the Sudanese children. It makes us look up and around us. It makes us realize that we are human, and that being human, we hold within us a great power. There is never a better time than now to put that power to work.

It is up to us to solve the problems in our world. If we cannot count on each other, then who do we have? “Invisible Children” makes this message very clear. It truly inspires and motivates the viewer like no other film ever has. It demands participation, and that is exactly the reaction of the viewer will be: a newfound aspect, inspiration and desire for change.

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Review Writing Winners 2007

First Place
Jansen Cumbie
Dorchester Academy
St. George, S.C.

Second Place
Lizzy Means
Dutch Fork HS
Irmo, S.C.

Third Place
Leah Yorston
Dutch Fork HS
Irmo, S.C.