Beasts of No Nation (2015)

A drama based on the experiences of Agu, a child soldier fighting in the civil war of an unnamed African country.

Director:

Cary Joji Fukunaga

Writers:

Cary Joji Fukunaga (written for the screen by), Uzodinma Iweala (based on the novel by)

Stars:

Abraham Attah, Emmanuel Affadzi, Ricky Adelayitor

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 32 wins & 53 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Abraham Attah	...	Agu
Emmanuel Affadzi	...	Dike
Ricky Adelayitor	...	Village Constable
Andrew Adote	...	Ecomod 2nd Lieutenant
Vera Nyarkoah Antwi	...	Little Sister
Ama K. Abebrese	...	Mother
Kobina Amissah-Sam	...	Father
Francis Weddey	...	Big Brother
Fred Nii Amugi	...	Pastor
John Arthur	...	Angry Bush Taxi Driver
Grace Nortey	...	Old Witch Woman
Emmary Brown	...	Grandfather
Nataliah Andoh	...	BBC Host
Matthew Mpoke Bigg	...	BBC Correspondent
Nana Mensah	...	Young Girl

Storyline

Follows the journey of a young boy, Agu, who is forced to join a group of soldiers in a fictional West African country. While Agu fears his commander and many of the men around him, his fledgling childhood has been brutally shattered by the war raging through his country, and he is at first torn between conflicting revulsion and fascination Depicts the mechanics of war and does not shy away from explicit, visceral detail, and paints a complex, difficult picture of Agu as a child soldier.

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Plot Keywords:

child soldier | civil war | boy | guerrilla warfare | guerrilla | 

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Taglines:

Child. Captive. Killer.

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Genres:

Drama | War

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

In preparation for playing The Commandant Idris Elba, exercised less, put on a few pounds, grew out his beard and shaved the front of his hair to suggest a receding hairline because he wanted his character to be rough-looking and out of shape, to distinguish him from the usual handsome, fit, well-groomed characters he often played.

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Goofs

When Preacher confronts the Commandant to say that he is leaving, the Commandant calls him Two I-C, who died earlier in the story.

This is not necessarily a goof. Two I-C is a rank (Second in Command), not a name. When the first Two I-C is killed, presumably on Commandant's orders, Commandant needs to delegate a new deputy leader and chooses Preacher. This is why Preacher's decision to leave carries such weight, and why he later opts to return to the bush.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Agu: It is starting like this.
[watching other children playing]
Agu: Let's keep looking. They aren't good enough.
Dike: Hey, let's take that girl.
Agu: Which one?
Dike: That girl. Zoey. Let's take her.
Agu: Ah... No. What about that one?
Dike: Him?
Agu: Yes.
[...]

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Connections

Features No Place Like Home (2006)

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Soundtracks

Mama Na Bana
Written by Augustin Makuntima Mawangu
Performed by Konono No. 1

User Reviews

Powerful

This movie is powerful and good, but definitely not for the faint-hearted! It wasn't for me! There were parts that I would cover my eyes!!! But great acting (especially the little boy) and a good movie.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English Akan

Release Date:

16 October 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Beasts of No Nation

Filming Locations:

Ghana

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$51,003, 18 October 2015

Gross USA:

$90,777

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$90,777

Company Credits

Production Co:

Red Crown Productions, The Princess Grace Foundation, Participant

Technical Specs

Runtime:

137 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1