Invisible Children
Encyclopedia
Invisible Children: Rough Cut is a 2003 American documentary film
. Its subject is the abduction and forced enlistment of children
by the sectarian Lord's Resistance Army
in Uganda
.
, known as the Lord's Resistance Army
(LRA). This caused the children to night commute, or walk miles every night to places of refuge in order to avoid these troops. The film tells their story.
.
In the past seven years, the organization has hosted 5,369+ "official" screenings at colleges, high schools, churches, concerts and other venues. As of June 2009, it is estimated that more than 5 million people have seen Invisible Children: The Rough Cut. Also at one occasion they had 200 cities helping the cause in 10 countries across the world getting one of the boys (the main focus of the film) to travel over there and help to show the government of the impact it made.
and provide scholarships to African youth.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit, Invisible Children Inc
, was created, giving individuals a way to respond to the situation in Uganda. An employee of the organization, Nate Henn, was killed in the July 2010 Kampala attacks
.
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
. Its subject is the abduction and forced enlistment of children
Military use of children
The military use of children takes three distinct forms: children can take direct part in hostilities , or they can be used in support roles such as porters, spies, messengers, look outs, and sexual slaves; or they can be used for political advantage either as human shields or in...
by the sectarian Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
in Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
.
Synopsis
In the spring of 2003, three filmmakers (Jason Russell, Bobby Bailey, and Laren Poole) traveled to Africa. They produced a documentary that revolves around Africa's longest running war, where children are being kidnapped and turned into child soldiers by the army of Joseph KonyJoseph Kony
Joseph Kony is an African terrorist who is the head of the Lord's Resistance Army , a guerrilla group that is engaged in a violent campaign to establish theocratic government based on the Ten Commandments in Uganda...
, known as the Lord's Resistance Army
Lord's Resistance Army
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Lord's Resistance Army rebel group, operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo...
(LRA). This caused the children to night commute, or walk miles every night to places of refuge in order to avoid these troops. The film tells their story.
Exhibition
The film was originally screened on June 22, 2004 at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice at the University of San DiegoUniversity of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
.
In the past seven years, the organization has hosted 5,369+ "official" screenings at colleges, high schools, churches, concerts and other venues. As of June 2009, it is estimated that more than 5 million people have seen Invisible Children: The Rough Cut. Also at one occasion they had 200 cities helping the cause in 10 countries across the world getting one of the boys (the main focus of the film) to travel over there and help to show the government of the impact it made.
Social activism
The story of the invisible children sparked a grassroots movement mobilizing thousands of American teens into action to raise money to rebuild war-torn schools in northern UgandaUganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
and provide scholarships to African youth.
A 501(c)(3) non-profit, Invisible Children Inc
Invisible Children Inc
Invisible Children, Inc.is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization seeking to draw attention to the atrocities committed by Joseph Kony and the rebel force known as the Lord's Resistance Army in Central Africa. Invisible Children uses film to raise awareness of the abductions and the forcing of...
, was created, giving individuals a way to respond to the situation in Uganda. An employee of the organization, Nate Henn, was killed in the July 2010 Kampala attacks
July 2010 Kampala attacks
The July 2010 Kampala attacks were suicide bombings carried out against crowds watching a screening of 2010 FIFA World Cup Final match during the World Cup at two locations in Kampala, Uganda, on , 2010. The attacks left 74 dead and 70 injured...
.
DVD
The film is roughly 55 minutes long, and includes a shorter 35-minute version for different screening options. Also included on the DVD are special features including deleted scenes, extras, filmmaker commentary, update on the war, and trailers from Invisible Children.External links
- Invisible Children Homepage
- Invisible Children images from film
- Mourning Nate Henn the Nate Henn memorial website