Beasts of No Nation has a 91% Rotten Tomatoes score (Image: Netflix)
A critically acclaimed film is leaving audiences ‘stunned’ and is available to stream now on Netflix, featuring “titanic” performances and offering insight into a harrowing reality.
The 2015 war drama, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, tells the tale of a young lad called Agu. Amidst a savage civil war in his community, Agu, previously a common villager, is forced to become a child soldier under the mental control of a charismatic warlord.
The Commandant (played by Idris Elba) employs a deliberate combination of fatherly warmth, intimidation, drug use, and severe psychological control to dismantle Agu until he transforms into a deadly fighter, taking part in savage guerrilla combat, trench assaults, and atrocities throughout the region.
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Beasts of No Nation drew inspiration from the novel of the same title by Nigerian-American writer Uzodinma Iweala, which documents Agu’s journey from a raw, first-person viewpoint, reports Wales Online.
Idris Elba’s performance was a standout for many viewers (Image: UGC)
The film is “a tragic and emotionally devastating depiction of child soldiers in West Africa,” according to one reviewer on Rotten Tomatoes, where it received an impressive score of 91%.
Viewers also applauded other aspects of the film, including Abraham Attah’s portrayal of Agu: “The cinematography is captivating as it contrasts the beautiful green jungle with the horrific abuse and war crimes that fester. The child acting is really impressive, and they’re able to match the energy of Idris Elba’s diabolical performance as the Commandant.”
Idris Elba claimed a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, alongside further independent film honours, yet was “robbed at the Oscars,” according to one reviewer, who described his portrayal as “masterful.”
The film stars Abraham Attah as Agu and Idris Elba as the Commandant (Image: UGC)
They went on to say: “His character is terrifying in ways other evil characters are not, because there is a layer of honesty and realism his performance brings. He is not just a comical evil dictator trope.”
Further reviewers praised how “the movie doesn’t shy away from showing the harsh realities of war and the things children are exposed to because of it.”
One fan wrote: “I WAS STUNNED… period, point blank. The visuals, music, and the brutal reality of guerrilla warfare and how it impacts the main character. This movie has managed to get a lot of different emotions out of me, more than the movies I see nowadays.”
One viewer described it as “an outstanding film featuring a remarkable storyline. Filming and assembling such a movie is a daunting task, but they executed it in a remarkable and impressive manner. I strongly recommend this film; you won’t be disappointed!”
The film left viewers “stunned” (Image: Netflix)
Beyond its critical acclaim, the film secured a prestigious Peabody Award and earned praise from reviewers for maintaining focus on African characters while avoiding the “white savior” tropes prevalent in Western media.
Beasts of No Nation is now on Netflix.
