Children of War

The first thing that is demanded of many of the kidnapped children is that they kill a member of their family. Once they have completed this terrible task, they are considered tough enough to be used in war and raids by the rebel army.

Children of War follows a girl named Judith, who for six years has lived as a sex slave for a rebel commander and the boy Dennis, who was caught when he tried to escape and was consequently forced to kill his friend with a bludgeon and then lick up the blood and bits of brain matter of his dead friend. This was to teach him not to attempt an escape again.

This film follows the therapist John Rheinstein from Save the Children, in his attempts to save children who have run away from the rebel army. Through its rehabilitation programme, the organization tries to help these children lead normal lives again after they have fled from the army. The traumatised children also experience rejection by their families because they have been party to terrible atrocities.