Ezra

Wed 29 Oct at 8.15pm

Newton Aduaka | Nigeria 2007 | 1h42m | 35mm | English with French subtitles | 15

In the year 2000, it was estimated that some 300,000 children were serving as soldiers in armed conflicts in more than thirty countries around the world. Almost half of them were engaged in various conflicts on the African continent.

Inspired by his own war-torn upbringing, Aduaka's film is the story of seven year-old Ezra, who is kidnapped by rebels on the way to school. After he was taken into the jungle and trained as a soldier, Ezra finds himself seven years later in front of a "Truth and Reconciliation Commission," which asks him to piece together a maze of facts surrounding the night of a devastating attack on a village. What is presented as a confession turns into a trial as his mute sister chooses to reveal a secret kept from her brother.

Winner of the grand prize at the 2007 FESPACO film festival, Ezra is a hard-hitting film but deals with its difficult and relevant subject matter in a poignant and sensitive fashion.

PLUS SHORTS

Promotional films: Global Concerns Trust and Tools for Self Reliance 21m | DVD | English | Documentaries

The screening of Ezra is sponsored by the charities Global Concerns Trust Global Concerns Trust and Tools for Self Reliance and will be preceded by two short films depicting the work of these charities in Africa.

Tools - Changing Lives follows the story of how people with various disabilities are benefiting from a joint Global Concerns Trust/Tools for Self Reliance project to take refurbished tools from Scotland to Malawi. Tools for Self Reliance: A short film about our work shows the charity's work with their partners in Ghana offering practical solutions which have lasting benefits for the entire community. The screenings will be followed by a discussion hosted by representatives of the two charities. For more information on the work of the charities and details about how you can get involved, please visit their websites.