"War Witch" (2013)

Countless horrific things take place in War Witch but they're seen through the perspective of someone who doesn't completely comprehend those horrors. The film's story is overwhelmingly gut-wrenching but director Kim Nguyen never does anything to get a rise out of us other than to tell the story plainly and let events tie us in knots on their own terms. Taken away from her village by rebels at the age of twelve, Komona (Rachel Mwanza) is indoctrinated and drugged so that she'll act upon the orders of the men who've stolen her away (and forced her to kill her own parents as an act of initiation). Much like the individuals of Invisible Children, the rebels realize that by taking in someone too young to understand what's being done to them, they'll be more easily manipulated and compliant. Komona's lack of education and impoverished upbringing aren't her only disadvantage though. She also seems to possess magical abilities which let her see the spirits of those who have passed away and foresee the advancement of government troops, making her a key asset for the rebel forces and a favorite of their leader, Great Tiger. The magic is foregrounded in an immersive, gritty realism, and it's minor enough that it never overwhelms the film's commitment to telling the horrors that befall Komona starkly, brutally and honestly. Komona can't comprehend what she experiences, but we might not entirely either: It's befuddling and frightening that such terrible realities exist in the world.

Grade: ★★★