The Devil Came on Horseback
The Devil Came on Horseback
| 19 January 2007 (USA)
The Devil Came on Horseback Trailers

While serving with the African Union, former Marine Capt. Brian Steidle documents the brutal ethnic cleansing occuring in Darfur. Determined that the Western public should know about the atrocities he is witnessing, Steidle contacts New York Times reporter Nicholas Kristof, who publishes some of Steidle's photographic evidence.

Reviews
bertseymour7

Don't get me wrong, I am all about assisting in Darfur, but having said that this documentary was shifting more towards propaganda than objective cinema. And perhaps that is what they wanted, my friend showed me this film and it was shockingly graphic. I personally enjoyed the part where Brian comes back to present this story and it is treated as nothing more than entertainment. It goes to show how things are perceived by the masses.This film seemed to dig too deeply into Brian the marine officer hero, and not enough into the sociological implications of what this occurring means to our world. I felt the camera was too often on Brian, while I know it is important to show him since he brought the photos back I wasn't interested in seeing him transform into a passionate spokesperson, I would rather focus on what is happening over there.I am a film goer who likes to think for himself, and this film doesn't allow me that luxury, it barks its orders at me as to what I should think and feel and do. It would be better if they let me digest this on my own. It is a tragedy over there, but I am interested in Darfur, not in the guy who photographed the insanity that is darfur.But I suppose this film wasn't meant to be looked at as a "film" per se, but rather as an educational video.

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Hint523

The Devil Came on Horseback is an exceptional documentary. Darfur is a conflict long overlooked and I rented this movie with apprehension. While I am a passionate advocate for action in Darfur, I wasn't sure weather this documentary would do it any justice or just be the same old boring info. I was wrong, and blown away. I have seen some moving films, regular or documentary, but this was incredible. Not only did it map out Darfur, but it also gave us an honest, compelling 1st-person account of what happened. As soon as I saw this movie I knew that I wanted to do something. The movie gives off so many emotions of frustration and sadness, and it's time to do something. I feel proud that a man like Brian has devoted his life to Darfur. I feel so frustrated that I cannot help more, but I will do my best to help as much as possible.10/10

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gordon burkholder

For a film about a genocide, it starts interestingly enough and then stalls out due to a terrible editing job. It jumps around from mostly random clip to mostly random clip, without any overarching narrative other than the Janjaweed and the Sudanese government are killing people in Darfur.Some of the footage was quite compelling, but the viewer is not shown enough.The film wastes time by focusing too much on the frustrations of the photographer as he tries to rally the American public on the issue. It becomes the "Brian Steidle Goes to Washington" show - and surprise! The gear of justice turn slowly, and too much time is spent on Brian and his ennui, his intense yearn for action...The film should have focused more on Darfur and Brian's photography work there Brian's media work in the US and Europe.Darfur is an important issue, and someone who is as committed as Brian Steidle deserves a better editor who can weave a much more compelling narrative.

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futures-1

"The Devil Came on Horseback" (2007): Documentary. This is an up close and personal look at the genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan, including those dead, tortured and raped, those who did it, those who supported it, and those who watched it happen. This is a sad, frustrating, and grisly document made by a man who sort of "stumbled onto" his dedication to help bring this ongoing issue into harsh international light. It's not that this hasn't happened before – it has. But here it is again, and this documentary doesn't give you the "Abstract Out" some do. One man rolled up his sleeves and caused this horror to be known to the world. I suggest you see it. You won't like it, but you'll also know you live an easy and safe life by comparison, and if you can, you might share some of your comfort with someone who has none.

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