April

Theatre of Violence

Lukasz Konopa, Emil Langballe

Lawyer Krispus Ayena leading the way in a fascinating, complex examination of the essence of justice. Ayena defends Domini Ongwen who is on trial before the International Criminal Court. Dominic Ongwen is the first ex-child soldier to be indicted for war crimes. 

At nine years old Dominic Ongwen was abducted by Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), a Christian cult led by Joseph Kony. The LRA terrorized Northern Uganda with large-scale killings and abductions of children, whom they brainwashed and turned into child soldiers or sex slaves. Dominic’s own parents were murdered, he was tortured, brainwashed and forced to kill. But now he is on trial before the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

Led by Ongwen’s lawyer Krispus Ayena, we go back and forth between the ICC courtroom and beautiful Northern Uganda on a quest for the true meaning of justice and punishment. We meet Joseph Kony’s wife and daughters and engage in a surreal conversation with Kony’s spiritual advisor. We also witness how Ugandan communities recover from trauma – and how that clashes with the foundations of the International Criminal Court. When does a victim transform into a perpetrator? 

Theatre of Violence is the winner of the Grand Jury Documentary Award at the Movies that Matter Festival 2023

Credits

Director
Lukasz Konopa, Emil Langballe
Type
Documentary
Country
Denmark, Germany
Year
2023
Duration
105'
Spoken Language
Swahili, English
Subtitles
English
*Theatres with in-depth programme in English.

Theatres, dates and times

Alkmaar
Tue 11 Apr at 18:30 in Filmhuis Alkmaar
Amersfoort
Mon 17 Apr at 20:15 in De Lieve Vrouw
Amsterdam
Sun 23 Apr at 19:15 in Kriterion*
Apeldoorn
Tue 11 Apr at 20:00 in Gigant
Arnhem
Tue 4 Apr at 19:00 in Focus Filmtheater
Delft
Thu 13 Apr at 19:30 in Filmhuis Lumen
Den Haag
Sun 16 Apr at 15:00 in Filmhuis Den Haag*
Deventer
Mon 24 Apr at 20:00 in MIMIK
Enschede
Mon 17 Apr at 19:30 in Concordia
Gouda
Tue 18 Apr at 20:00 in Filmhuis Gouda
Groningen
Tue 11 Apr at 20:30 in VERA Zienema*
Hilversum
Tue 11 Apr at 19:00 in Filmtheater Hilversum
Leiden
Mon 17 Apr at 19:00 in Kijkhuis*
Maastricht
Tue 25 Apr at 19:30 in Lumière Cinema*
Middelburg
Mon 10 Apr at 20:00 in Cinema Middelburg*
Utrecht
Mon 10 Apr at 19:00 in Louis Hartlooper Complex*
Wageningen
Tue 18 Apr at 19:30 in Movie W*