Brutality and tenderness are a potent mix in “War Witch.” The story of child soldiers in Africa is seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old girl, Komona, who is impressively portrayed by neophyte Rachel Mwanza, a former street child. It opens with Komona being captured in her small village by anti-government rebels, who force her to fatally shoot her parents and join the revolution.
The girl and other abducted children are issued AK-47 assault rifles and told that the weapons are their new mothers and fathers. Komona’s training is brutal, and she’s beaten when she cries. When she is the only survivor of a battle against government troops, the rebel chief, known as Great Tiger, names her his war witch.
She develops a loving relationship with a 15-year-old albino captive known as Magician (Serge Kanyinda), who impregnates her. The two escape the rebels, and for a brief time they lead a relatively normal life.
Set in an unspecified African country and filmed in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, “War Witch” was the official Foreign Film Oscar nominee by Canada, which is home to its writer-director, Kim Nguyen, who worked on the project for 10 years. He coaxes natural performances from his lead actors; and despite the story’s bleak trajectory, he never resorts to sensationalism. Nicolas Bolduc’s luscious hand-held camerawork is a big plus.