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Closing Night: Theatre of Violence (15) [UK Premiere] + ScreenTalk

Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2023

Still from Theatre of Violence

Dominic Ongwen is the first former child soldier prosecuted by the International Criminal Court (ICC). Theatre of Violence asks: how do we define “justice” when the perpetrator is also a victim? 

Ongwen was just 9 years old when he was abducted on his way to school, as were estimated over 20,000 other children, by Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA). Intimidated and indoctrinated, he quickly learned to kill or be killed. Now Ugandan lawyer Krispus Ayena Odongo is assigned to defend him in court.

We follow Odongo and team as they prepare for Ongwen’s defence - asking vital questions in an unfolding debate on what accountability entails when someone is both victim and perpetrator; and grappling with the underlying issue of what justice looks like when being conducted in an international court, far away from key cultural and historical context.

Join us for a talk with filmmaker Lukasz Konopa, Uganda and Tanzania researcher, Human Rights Watch, Oryem Nyeko (via zoom). Moderated by Yasmine Ahmed, UK Director, Human Rights Watch.

Denmark 2023 Dir Lukasz Konopa, Emily Langballe 106 min (in the English, Swahili, Luo language)

Please note: this film contains description of violence, murder, rape, and torture, some of which includes children.

‘Visually, it’s beautiful. The issues are presented in a very nuanced way which is rare for Western-made productions about the LRA war and the conflict in Uganda - centering Acholi voices.‘
Oryem Nyeko, Uganda and Tanzania Researcher, Human Rights Watch

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Cinema 1

Location
Barbican Cinema 1 is located within the main Barbican building on Level -2. Head to Level G and walk towards the Lakeside Terrace where you’ll find stairs and lifts to take you down to the venue floor.   

Address
Barbican Centre
Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

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