The Devil Came on Horseback

Note: Alexham or Feddie, wrote about this movie back in July 2007.

I watched it last night, finally. The 2007 Sundance Award winning movie is about former Marine Capt Brian Steidle’s work with the African Union’s cease fire monitoring in 2004 of the crisis in Sudan. His job was to go to Sudan with a camera, pen and paper and document any violations of the cease fire. He didn’t have a clue where Sudan was when he went and he didn’t know about Darfur, but he is there when the atrocities begin and for 6 months he documents babies being burned alive, children being shackled and then burned alive, women being systematically raped (and infected with HIV), and the overall genocide being committed there. As an observer, he spoke with the Jangiweed which translates to “The Devil on Horseback,” who are very clear with him about who is behind the killings (the Sudanese Arabic Government) and the goal of the killings–Genocide.

When he returns home he cannot find peace. He doesn’t know what to do with all the pictures and reports he has. With his sister’s encouragement, he takes his documentation to New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof who decides to print the images. From there, the Save Darfur movement sparks and Steidle is asked to testify at the Hague and other political organizations in his futile attempt to stop the atrocities. Four years later, the killings continue, but this movie will move your conscience to at least call your political leaders to do something.

Click here to watch the trailer. Note: I thought the movie would be really bloody, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought, mainly because most of the dead bodies were burned to incineration.

For those who want to do more, click here. In my State, for instance, we are fighting to divest AK’s funds from the Sudanese Government. You may want to check out your own State’s role in funding the Genocide. You may find out more information at the above link.