Watch War Witch

War Witch is a remarkable film that tells the story of a 12-year-old girl named Komona, who is abducted from her village in sub-Saharan Africa and forced to become a child soldier for a violent rebel group. Komona's journey is a harrowing one, as she is forced to endure terrible violence, including murder and rape, all while struggling to hold onto her humanity.

The film is directed by Canadian filmmaker Kim Nguyen, who brings an unflinching eye to the violence and turmoil of Komona's world. Shot on location in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the film offers a grim and unvarnished view of the war that has ravaged the nation for decades. There are no heroes here, only people trying to survive in an impossibly brutal environment.

The film centers on Rachel Mwanza's outstanding performance as Komona. Mwanza was just 14 years old at the time of filming, and her raw and powerful performance anchors the film. Komona is a complex character, and Mwanza captures her mixture of strength and vulnerability with extraordinary skill. We see Komona start out as just another child soldier, following orders without question, but as she experiences more of the horrors of war, she begins to assert herself and develop her own moral code.

Komona's journey is aided by a series of memorable supporting characters, including the older rebel soldier known only as the Magician (Alain Lino Mic Eli Bastien), who takes her under his wing and teaches her how to use her psychic powers to sense danger, and the young albino rebel named Magicien (Serge Kanyinda), who befriends Komona and shares her desire to escape the rebel group.

Despite the grim subject matter, War Witch is not without moments of humor and warmth. The relationship between Komona and Magicien, in particular, provides some welcome moments of levity amid the darkness. There is also a sense of magic and wonder to the film, as Komona's psychic powers give her a unique perspective on the world.

At its core, though, War Witch is a devastating portrait of a young girl forced to grow up too fast in a world that values violence above all else. The film does not shy away from the brutality of the war, but it also shows us the humanity that still exists in Komona and those around her, even in the face of unimaginable horror.

Ultimately, War Witch is a film about survival, about the strength of the human spirit in the face of overwhelming adversity. It is a powerful and moving work of art that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

War Witch is a 2012 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 84.