Invisible Children

Tonight I watched the rough cut of a documentary called Invisible Children with Payton. I have seen the film twice. One of those times I actually got to meet two of the film makers and hear directly from their mouths what they experienced and how they envision the future for this movie and this movement.

It is a film about the children of northern Uganda who are hunted, kidnapped and forced to become child soldiers by the Rebels, the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army). Thousands of children flee their villages every night to sleep in the nearest "city" together trying to stay away from the rebels. It is heart wrenching, depressing and enlightening all at the same time. It shows how resilient the children are and calls the viewers to action. I'm not sure how Payton feels about the movie yet, although it captured his attention for the full hour and he wanted to see all of the "extras" on the DVD. Payton tends to not be openly moved by things, but shows in little ways what touches him. He asked me to get him an Invisible Children T-shirt and agrees that we should invite a bunch of his friends and their parents over to watch the movie.

The movie is in rough cut form and the guys who filmed it, Bobby, Laren, and Jason have since returned to Uganda to get some more footage. When they returned the second time, they brought the film to the place I work (because we funded them to some degree) and that is how I got to meet them. They are in their early 20's and they really know how to appeal to the youth of today.

I will be showing this film at my house several times between now and the end of the summer for anyone who is interested. It is not easy to watch, but it is important information to know. It is not the same crisis as the now very well known (thank god) Darfur situation, however it is related because it is the war in the Sudan that has forced so many refugees from southern Sudan into northern Uganda. Two years ago I could not have found Sudan or Uganda on a map. Today, that area of the world had captured my heart and soul. I cry for them, I think about them, and now I'm going to do my small part by trying to get the word out.

There are many ways you can help the children of Uganda. World Vision is doing great work. So is Creative Visions. The Invisible Children crew have taken this film making venture and turned it into a full blown organization doing all kinds of great things. Check them out. They are working towards a big screen release some time in the next year to 18 months. 

TAGS: invisible children,Uganda, LRA, child soldiers

Comments

[Liz]

Let's see if we can get a screening in Woodside or Portola Valley -- maybe through the Priory, at the Priory.

[Liz]

Hit send too soon -- email me ponytrax at batnet dot com and we'll work together to set something up.

[Joan]

Chris, great posting on the Invisible Children film. It still amazes me that such horrendous atrocities continue year after year and we remain largely oblivious. I know Americans care, individually we are very generous (as a government that is actually another issue), but it is seductively easy to get swept up into the demands and delights of our very rich nation. Perhaps this "viral" awareness campaign can engage our attention long enough to do something for these children so cruelly robbed of their innocence. Thank you for what you are doing to wake us up. Let's hope this "virus" is very contagious.

[Lin]

There is so much horror in this world. Thankfully, there are people who document it and organizations that are taking positive action to help diminish its strength. Thanks for the links to World Vision, etc. I'll do what I can.

[GraceD]

Oh, Kris. Thank you for reminding us in this overly affluent, relatively safe country, that there are children in such profound peril. I don't know if I have the strength to watch this film, but, I know I must. You'll send out an email to the WoolfCampers, yes?

Thank you for your mommy activism. It is an inspiration to us all.

[george]

Hablar en español, no entiendo nada por favor.

[george]

Hablar en español, no entiendo nada por favor.

[Mary]

Kris, email me next time you show it or if you do a public showing.