L'oeil du cyclone

Finally, a film about black African child soldiers that is not predictable or exploits or reheats themes and images found in Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness ("the horror, the horror"). And yet, Eye of the Storm has the musculature of a Hollywood film. It moves, feels, and is edited like a movie that has a big budget, big names, and big themes. Even some of the tension and twists in the plot are the kinds studio executives expect from a script. The intention of Eye of the Storm is to discomfit. The complexity surrounding the issues raised make snap judgments even more redundant than usual. Right down to the final disconcerting scene, it's a morbidly compelling work of art.

Having a general knowledge of African geopolitics and of life in Africa is a great help in understanding this film because the points made by the films are often very subtle and very African. With this caveat out of the way, what a gem of a film this was. Is it a thriller : Yes ! Is it a court room thriller : Yes ! Is it a political film : Yes ! Is it a war film : Yes ! Is it realistically African : Yes ! Does it leave you thinking about it for hours afterwards : Absolutely Yes ! If you understand French, the original dialogue is best, but, thankfully, the English subtitles were for the most part good translations.

Without giving too much away there are so many subtly made statements by this film that you will never guess the main statement it is leading you towards, and yet where you think it is leading you throughout most of the film is itself gripping to the core.

An absolute masterpiece.