War Don Don

On a dusty road in the heart of Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, UN soldiers are posted outside a building that locals refer to as the 'special court'. Inside, Issa Sesay stands trial. But who is Issa Sesay? According to the prosecutors, he is a war criminal, who committed horrendous crimes against humanity. His defenders, however, say he is a reluctant fighter who protected civilians and played a crucial role in bringing to an end ten years of civil war that have ravaged the country. Is it in the interest of peace to severely punish Sesay? And how should a country get to terms with its past? War Don Don ('the war is over') tells the story of the controversial case before the Special Court for Sierra Leone, seen through the eyes of the prosecutors, lawyers, victims, perpetrators and Sesay himself.
Director Rebecca Richman Cohen will be present at the festival.