Darfur Now

The title of this movie is slightly misleading. It’s not about Darfur now; it’s about the activism and legal manoeuvring trying to help stave off the Sudanese genocide. And while that’s not a bad thing, there are certain drawbacks to the approach. Starting off with a brief description of the strife-torn region, the film then segues into what we can do. We’re introduced to a previously apathetic activist trying to get California to divest itself from Sudan, an Argentinean lawyer at the Hague discussing the roadblocks to prosecution, an aid worker on the ground in Darfur and, yes, Don Cheadle, one of the film’s producers, who’s been beating the ground on behalf of the cause as well. One might accuse Cheadle of grandstanding but he’s no dummy: the film wouldn’t be getting nearly the attention it is if not for his involvement. And if nothing else, it quiets that cynical inner voice that nothing can be done. The lawyer, who witnessed crimes against humanity in his own country, is adamant that such criminals can be brought to justice, and the film is constantly pumping you with the idea that action is better than silence. Still, the film needs more of the Sudanese, with the representatives on hand not given nearly the same kind of voice as the other speakers — one only gets an abbreviated understanding of the extent of the problem. This might make it more palatable for easily upset newbies, and if that makes it an entry point for thinking and acting about the genocide it will have served a useful purpose. Just be warned that the discussion doesn’t end with the feature and needs some follow-up. There’s more context to be found in the special features — while an intro and commentary by director Theodore Braun don’t do much politically there’s ample extra footage to fill in a few gaps.