The Devil Came on Horseback (2007)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Directors:

Ricki Stern
Anne Sundberg

Writers:

Ricki Stern (writer)
Anne Sundberg (writer)

Release Date:

11 April 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary

Tagline:

At age 27, Brian Steidle became a monitor with the African Union in Darfur, Sudan. He was completely unprepared for what he would see.

Plot:

A documentary that exposes the genocide raging in Darfur, Sudan as seen through the eyes of a former U.S. marine who returns home to make the story public.

Plot Keywords:

Darfur | Sudan | Genocide | African Union | Ex Marine

Awards:

5 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Brian Steidle

...

Himself

Runtime:

USA:85 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Arabic

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16

Filming Locations:

Darfur, Sudan

Company:

Break Thru Films

Compelling film on Genocide in Darfur

This amazing film screened at the SXSW Film Festival and was extremely well-received. The film is a remarkable picture of the tragedy that is unfolding in Africa and being ignored by both America and the rest of the world. The story is told thru the eyes of former American Marine Captain, turned international monitor, Brian Steidle. Steidle is the reluctant hero drawn into the events of Darfur almost by accident. As his eyes are opened to the ugliness of what is happening in Darfur he opens our eyes as well.

The photographs are amazing and nightmarish. The tragic message is that we haven't learned from the Holocaust and more recently Rwanda is also clear and deeply haunting. This film is significantly better made than the somewhat amateurish film, although still interesting and informative, Darfur Diaries. It is filmed with both heart and skill. Steidle, who has also written a book by the same name, is the perfect guide to draw us out of our apathy and into the heart of this deep unfolding tragedy. His palpable feeling of anger and helplessness as he watches genocide is palpable and heart-breaking.

The film is also an indictment of the failure of the US and other Western governments to act to address this humanitarian crisis that has been unfolding now for 4 years. The U.S. has called these events "genocide," but has done nothing substantive to provide for a UN peacekeeping force to address the tragedy.

This is the type of film that must be widely scene if Americans are to awaken from their slumber and respond to this horror of murder, rape, massacre, slaughter, and dislocation that is being committed by Sudan's government against its own citizens. Perhaps there is still a chance to save even more people from dying if Americans are willing to pay attention to what is happening. I hope that Americans take the time to see this important and compelling film about the greatest tragedy of our times.