Indianapolis International Film Festival 2009

'War Dance Returns' is a follow-up to 2007's highly successful documentary 'War Dance,' about the struggles of 3 children from northern Uganda's war zone who go on to compete in the national music and dance competition in Kampala. In 'War Dance Returns,' the filmmakers travel back to Uganda to visit the children, mapping the film's impact on their lives. Also, it documents the first time that the Ugandan people see 'War Dance', and their amazing reactions to watching their stories brought to cinematic life before their eyes.'War Dance' chronicled the stories of Rose, Dominic, and Nancy, three young teenagers with horrific stories of struggle, death, and will. Every day, these children in the refugee camp of Patango are confronted with the threat of being ripped from their families and friends by the L.R.A., the Lord's Resistance Army, a rebel group that has been at war with the Ugandan nation for over two decades. The L.R.A. 'recruits' soldiers by kidnapping children from villages, children like Dominic who was forced to kill two of his neighbors by the rebels. Luckily, Dominic escaped, but even those who are not taken feel the effects of the war. Rose had to identify the bodies of her parents who were both savagely murdered by the rebels. The stories of Dominic, Rose and Nancy are devastating, but the hope that they display is inspiring. Whether it be Nancy's singing, Rose's dancing or Dominic's xylophone-playing, they all express the rage, passion, joy and hope that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. 'War Dance Returns' poignantly captures those reflexive moments when the three children and their entire refugee camp views 'War Dance' on a 25 foot tall movie screen for the first time. As each of their stories unfold before them on film, the three teens' faces give way to the journey of emotions that 'War Dance' hopes to convey- finding hope within horror. 'War Dance Returns' proves that hope and peace can exist even amid the continuation and aftermath of war.