DVD REVIEW

Darfur Now

Warner Home Video || PG || May 27, 2008

Synopsis

This acclaimed documentary follows the story of six people who are determined to end the suffering in Sudan’s war-ravaged Darfur.  The six – an American activist, an international prosecutor, a Sudanese rebel, a sheikh, a leader of the world food program, and an internationally known actor – demonstrate the power of how one individual can create extraordinary changes.


Critique

Darfur Now opens with Hejewa Adam, a Darfur rebel, being bathed in a river.  She talks about her child dying and the horrors she has witnessed.  She takes up arms in rebellion, vowing to take down the warlords who have torn her land apart.

Over in the U.S., Los Angeles activist Adam Sterling does what he can to bring awareness to the conflict.  We see him on the Third Street Promenade, passing out flyers and being ignored.  We go back and forth between Adam’s activities and the efforts of people all over the world to bring attention to the Darfur plight.

The problem in Darfur is so huge, and no one seems to know exactly what to do or where to start.  Adam tries to get a bill passed and finds out just how naïve he is in the process.  He starts the Sudan Divestment Task Force, a movement designed to divest all investments held by the State of California in Sudan.

Of course, if you’re going to crack any of the major problems facing humanity, you can’t do it without … celebrities.  Don Cheadle – with an assist from George Clooney – travel to China and Egypt in an attempt to get those countries to act.  Cheadle later stands with Adam Sterling as he delivers his bill to the governor.

The film does end on a positive note – the wheels of progress slowly begin to inch forward – but overall there is very little here.  All these people, who are on the front lines of Darfur every day, still seem to be at a loss as to exactly what to do about what is going on there.  Strong people are preying on weak people; this is the story of the world and everyone here seems to know it.

Darfur Now might be one of the better documentaries about Darfur.  It veers a bit too close to smug territory at times, but it avoids the preachy pretentiousness of some other films.  There aren’t many answers here because there are no easy answers.  The important thing is that people are trying.  The fight continues …


Video

Darfur Now is presented in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio.  The presentation is sharp, and the film’s raw, on-the-go look is well translated.  There is no certain color scheme at work here, but the overall picture looks good.


Audio

This disc is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1.  Again, the soundtrack is nothing too taxing, but the levels are crisp and sharp, with all levels coming through clearly and well balanced.


Special Features

Introduction by Director Theodore Braun: a statement from the director that sets the stage for the film.

Commentary By Director Theodore Braun: the director talks about the region, the music, the logistics of the shoot and more.

Additional Scenes: ten of them.


Final Thoughts

Darfur Now is a better-than-some documentary about an impossible problem.  The film gets smug at times, but it presents a compelling portrait of the problem and what is being done to solve it.

VERDICT: RECOMMENDED

 

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Review posted on Jul 1, 2008 | Share this article | Top of Page

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