Film sparks interest in children’s plight

Approximately 250 Sisters residents attended the free screenings of the independent film documentary Invisible Children over the weekend at Sisters Movie House.

The film, created by three college-aged students to increase American awareness regarding the plight of children terrorized by a rebel group known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in Northern Uganda, is the centerpiece of the group’s campaign.

The film documents how the three young American men Jason Russell, Laren Poole and Bobby Bailey, traveled to Africa in 2003, unaware of what they would ultimately experience during their loosely planned trip.

While there they learned about the infamous Lord’s Resistance Army, led by a Joseph Kony, and its practice of kidnapping people, particularly children, to use as members of their army, over the past 20 years. The children, usually aged 8-14 when captured, are brutalized, brainwashed, and taught to kill.

Since 1987, an estimated 30,000 children have been abducted. The LRA has opposed the Ugandan government for nearly 20 years.

The film is available on DVD from the Web site http://www.invisiblechildren.com.