'Innocent Voices' of Salvadoran Civil War
By Nick Norman
Armies don't just happen. They get up in the morning, put their shoes on, and in some cases, kiss their mothers goodbye. Luis Mandoki's new film, "Innocent Voices," tells the tale of countless children caught in the middle of the Salvadoran Civil War.
This is a coming-of-age story at its very harshest. Instead of adulthood, our hero must grow into an inevitable civil war. He must choose to hide or fight.
And if he does fight, for which side will he take up arms?
As he deliberates over the next two hours, I found myself ducking as bullets ripped across the screen. They smashed through a shanty town filled with cowering children. They shattered the skulls of guerillas and army soldiers alike. They even silence a revolutionary priest.
Throughout the film, one fact remained constant: the expressions on the children's faces matched my own wide-eyed and horrified stare. Sadly, "Innocent Voices" reminded be that this empty stare of terror occurs everywhere -- everyday.
Children, family, betrayal and violence co-exist in all wars. Mandoki did a wonderful job of not making a public service announcement for the Salvadoran Civil War out of his film.
Instead, he made a universal anti-war film. It could take place anywhere there is a clash of classes and people fighting for human dignity.
Bringing freshness to the screen, this film examines a facet of war most often ignored. What happens when young boys become a commodity -- a supply -- more vital than intelligence, camouflage, and even firearms?
Mandoki takes wartime objectification to a new level of visceral ache.
Furthermore, an amiable middle-aged and mentally handicapped friend of the children provides another dimension of innocence. Between him and the vulnerable children, my gut ached throughout the entire film.
When I walked into the theatre the modest audience spoke entirely in hushed Spanish. I immediately wondered if any of them were of Salvadoran descent. I believe I got my answer halfway through the film when the warfare and drama fully erupted. Half the theatre left within a 10-minute period.
Trust me, this is a wonderful film. They were not leaving out of boredom.
I entered this film stressed about my school work and dreading a looming midterm. I left with a revitalized perspective on life.
My focus switched focus from the stress of my life and came to rest on the troubles of the rest of the world. Every now and then, we require a reminder that the small things in our lives are in fact, still small.
"Innocent Voices" follows a more European approach to audience fulfillment. Hollywood films please an audience by featuring likeable characters attaining goals and generally succeeding in their challenges.
European -- especially French -- films favor a healthy dose of gritty negativity. The audience leaves the theater happy not because they saw another individual succeed, but because their lives are so much better than those of the characters on screen.
Therefore, I couldn't wait to get home to study all night. My worries center around minuscule red marks on perfectly printed text on perfectly white paper.
Go see this film and ask yourself: What would I do -- would I fight?
Grade: A-
Contact Nick Norman at (408) 551-1918 or nicknorman@gmail.com.