Children of War (2014)

This is a long film. So not everyone may find the duration convenient. The film is set in the liberation war that led to the formation of Bangladesh. In the actual war, the first targets of the occupying Pakistani troops were the non-Muslim segments of the population. In particular the Hindu community was decimated by summary executions and extensive organized rapes by Pakistani soldiers. This, however is not brought out in the film. Instead it focuses on the story of a Bengali Muslim family that supports independence from Pakistan. The reasons for this support are not laid out clearly. Thus, none of the drama about the Bengali win in the elections that were not honored due to reservation of West Pakistani elites is depicted. Instead one learns about the already set in place move towards freedom from Pakistan as well as what appear to be Muslim fundamentalists who support the rule by West Pakistanis, who are the collaborators. The actual war of independence was a complex affair that required enormous suffering by Bengalis as well as involved China, Pakistan, India, US and USSR together with the International Media. This aspect is hinted at weakly but not brought out. The dramatic collapse of the Pakistani Army is also not made clear. Now with all of this you may be tempted to say, may be another film will do all this. That would be a mistake because the conduct of the Pakistani army in full glare of International media was so horrific that it easily qualified as genocide. They, however, got away free. The story brings out the impunity and the knowledge of it by the diplomatic corps and the media but that not much could be done due to warped calculations--the movie does not clarify whose, but history tells us it was Nixon, Kissinger, China filling in the parts. In that respect, it has a Kafkaesque feel where wrongs are being done in an disinterested benign manner by State forces and the individual has no real value. The film brings this out wonderfully. It is best appreciated if one goes in expecting this aspect rather than a detailed telling of history. I recommend it highly to all those who like well researched and nuanced films.

I am Bangladeshi and I know the maker of this film he is not Bangladeshi. But, Bangladeshi peoples and media and the fdc film producers & directors, should be thanking the director of this film, Mrityunnjay devrat. He showed in this film what disgusting things happened for 9 months in my country in your country. No he' is creating an awesome opportunity to show some respect Internationally who sacrificed their family daughter, child, father, everything. should Friends and families from Bangladesh or from any other countries, who slightly knows about the biggest 1971 genocide, lets share what we think about our motherland Bangladesh. lets try to do good justices with those Bengali peoples souls,who were raped, tortured and killed by those Pakistani Hyena's. I need your support friends please. children of war revels The ugliest but the true stories behind of 1971 genocide. This is not only Bangladeshi history now. its a world history now. So, support this film. I am supporting thins film because, I have respects for those peoples, who were raped, killed and god give their souls peace.

Hats f to this film and the maker Mr.Mrityunjay Devrat and all of the members who made this film awesome. I did not thought i'll love this film. I am Bangladeshi and a dreamer. Whenever I read and think about Bangladesh freedom fight 1971 and all the peoples who gave life and the children's and woman's who were raped, killed and tortured by those Pakistani monsters, pictured the whole situation in mind only and always hope if any one can make a perfect movie on this 1971 Genocide attack, the whole bloody 9 months. One morning just opened a TV for watching typical boring serials. Suddenly I saw, a film named "Children of war"!! Felt not that much excited, because I thought this film will not reach my hope like other freedom fighting films. But,, I have no idea about when I continued watching it my eyes wear full of tears. It felt like, I was there too, watching my sister and mother getting raped by those Hayena monsters. " Children Of Wars"... you make me fell that pain again which I should remember everyday. Thank you so much to all of you.

"A dark masterpiece"! That is all what I can say about this movie. A ruthless, cruel, violent graphical depiction of the almost forgotten 1971 genocide happened in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) by Pakistani Army where almost 3 million people were killed and 4 lakh women were raped. It is hard to believe this is Mrityunjay Devvrat's debut film! This movie is not for the faint hearted, the "A" really means something here. Forget about the other horrific torture on human being, sudden scenes like two pakistani soldiers are casually shooting cows as they loose a bet or the captured women prisoners are thrown out from the trucks like unused materials will send shiver down your spine. It is unthinkable how absolute power can bring us down so low and human can perform such unthinkable acts to other fellow human being in the name of country, religion, language. I have never seen such brutal and explicit depiction of rape after "Bandit Queen", a weapon used by pakistani Army to destroy the morale of common men. Indranil, Raima,Tilottoma were OK, Victor was impressive in a small role and Farooq Seiq was very good as an undercover leader of one of the Muktiyodha(Freedom figher) gang. RIP Farooq Seikh sir, we will miss you. However for me the superstars were Rafiq and his sister Kausar (I forgot to note their actual names, sorry about that), the protective brother and elder sister, what a performance they have given! And yes, Pavan malhotra as the cruel Pakistani general is really outstanding, he, in some cases reminded me of Stoph Waltz who played the infamous SS Col. Hans Landa in the movie "Inglorious Basterds". In the movie we have three stories running in parallel (Raima-Indranil, a journalist and his wife whose lives were massacred by the Pak army, a brother and sister who are the only survivors in their village and Victor who is trying to lead his villagers to a safe place and of course the freedom movement) which finally will merge. The background score was also fine. This movie is not for the masses, so it will definitely not do a good business in box office, but certainly will be appreciated in many forums. 8/10 from me.