In 1987, at age seven or nine (he has never known his actual birthday), Emmanuel Jal became a child soldier for the Sudanese People's Liberation Army. He was not forced to do so, he makes that clear, but when your village has been burned and your family slaughtered you see no other option. Rescued by a British aid worker, Jal is now a charismatic, soft-spoken adult, who has found healing through music, and is becoming an international star in the process. The documentary includes footage of Jal as a child. In one interview he says he'd like to fly airplanes, to go to school, to live life. These dreams are clearly present nearly 20 years later, as Jal works to give Sudanese children an education, and to build schools where there are none. From war child to adopted son, from resident of the Nairobi slums to student at one of its finest schools, Jal's light shone brightly. Now he is sharing that light with the world. War Child is a story of struggle and profound hope; one that reminds us of the inimitable strength of the human spirit.
Director: C. Karim Chrobog
Producer: C. Karim Chrobog, Afshin Molavi
Editor: Nels Bangerter
Cinematographer: Stanley Staniski

Country: USA
Year: 2008
Running time: 93 Minutes
Genres: Documentary, Music, Social Issues, Teen Flick

Language: English
Sub-Titles:English Sub-Titles

C. Karim Chrobog's Filmography: Debut Feature Film



PRIX / FESTIVALS / AWARDS / DISTINCTIONS / TELEVISIONS


2008 | Edinburgh Film Festival |
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2008 | SIFF - Seattle Film Festival | SEATTLE, Usa | www.siff.net
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* Programs: Documentary Films, Face the Music, FutureWave

2008 | Berlin Film Festival |
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2008 | Tribeca Film Festival |
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