The Devil Came on Horseback

Last night I saw the new film The Devil Came on Horseback, a documentary chronicling Brian Steidle's work as a photographer in Darfur in 2004-2005. This was the best documentary about Darfur that I have seen; it was the most cohesive, probably because it had a central focus, but through his photography it brought together testimonies of refugees, the work of other Darfur activists, and emphasized the inhumanity and impunity of the Janjaweed. The Devil Came on Horseback is the most difficult film I've seen in a long time; it was not just the grusome, gut-wrenching photos of violence, rape, and destruction that made the film difficult. There was something so raw and so human in Brian Steidle's story that it made it impossible to turn away even from the most horrifying pictures of children who had been burned alive. I plan on recommending The Devil Came on Horseback to everyone I know because once you see it, you'll take action.

Here are some links about the film:
-Interview with Annie Sundberg, one of the directors
-Movie Review (New York Times)
-"The Reluctant Hero of Darfur, the Movie" (New York Times)
-Official website

I'd love to know what others think of the film, so if you've seen it, post a comment on this blog.