A profile of the award winning "War Witch "in Shadow and Act:
Rarely does war look so beautiful on film. I feel somewhat guilty saying that given the unspeakable acts of physical and mental torment the young protagonist in War Witch endures throughout its roughly 90-minute running time.
But director Kim Nguyen's dream-like visual aesthetic captivates; and when combined with the laconically-told narrative, we could say, in some way, collectively, they help soften the otherwise emotionally devastating blow any thinking/feeling member of the audience would feel.
Not that the material is isn't harrowing. It certainly is; although director Nguyen shields us from the worst a child in young Komona's predicament would likely face in real life.
It may not have even been intentional (I haven't read any interviews with the director, nor have i interviewed him), and this isn't necessarily a negative or positive (just an observation by one person), but it's hard not to succumb to the odd serenity the painterly images and silences create...[continue reading]