‘‘The Silent Army’ – which brings the plight of child soldiers in Afrika to the screen – has been selected for viewing at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival. Having consulted on the original Dutch version of the movie, ‘Wit Licht’, War Child Holland is extremely pleased with the international attention this will bring to the struggles of children in war zones.

Children in war
Today, over 250,000 children around the world are currently being exploited as child soldiers. While the movie itself is fiction, the stories of the children in this movie were based on the real life experiences of (former) child solders and children of war who have taken part in War Child programmes.

The real story
War Child was involved in the production of the movie from the very beginning, offering knowledge and expertise about the problematic situation in Africa, particularly when it comes to child soldiers. By participating in the making of this film, War Child hoped to develop a script that was as authentic as possible. The stories of the child soldiers in the movie are based upon real life experiences of children who have taken part War Child’s programmes. The actors in the movie were also taken through our programmes in order to help them prepare for their roles.

Find out more
Learn more about War Child Holland, child soldiers and background infromation on the film 'The Silent Army' - and how you can help take the war out of childhood.
~ Visit the War Child Holland international website

The Silent Army film trailer

The trailer to The Silent Army will be available here soon, keep posted for more info.

FACTS

Netherlands 2009
~92 MIN
~Color
~English, Dutch

DIR Jean van de Velde
PROD Paul Brinks, Chris Brouwer, Richard Claus
SCR Jean van de Velde
DP Theo van de Sande
CAST Marco Borsato, Adrian Galley, Tekla Reuten, Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga
MUSIC Nick Laird-Clowes

Synopsis ~warning spoiler alert~

source —Cannes Film Festival

Life as a restaurant owner in an eastern African country is not easy for the 40 year old, African born and bred Eduard Zuiderwijk after the sudden death of his wife. He now stands for the task of raising his 9-year-old son Thomas all by himself. The young Thomas seeks and gains support from his friend Abu, son of Mafillu, one of the female black staff members in the restaurant. One day Abu disappears suddenly together with at least ten other children, after a nightly and violent raid of his village by the rebel army. Abu’s father and many other villagers were killed and the missing children are nowhere to be found. Young Thomas cannot be consoled. He wants Abu back, and Eduard, who feels he is failing as a father, decides to try to find Abu and save him from the hands of the rebel leader. While Eduard proceeds to an IDP camp in the middle of the conflict-infested area to gather information about the possible whereabouts of Abu and the other abducted children, Abu himself is undergoing harsh child soldier training in the rebel army of Michel Obeke. No means, either physical or psychological, are being withheld in order to transform the children into ruthless killers. Against the advice and will of the aid workers that Eduard meets, he persists in his plight towards finding and saving his son’s friend, and after a dangerous and irresponsible search through the jungle he manages to reach Michel Obeke’s camp. Obeke demonstrates to Eduard that all of the children in his camp are there of their own free will, and that neither Abu nor any other child wants to leave the rebel army and go with Eduard. When Eduard is an unintentional witness to a secret weapon delivery his troubles become even more immense. The arms dealers as well as Michel Obeke want to rid themselves of this inconvenient spy. Eduard now not only needs to save Abu but also his own life.