Johnny Mad Dog's Depiction Of Child Soldiers In Film
The depiction of child soldiers in film usually have a very straightforward narrative, with most films giving a very singular and transparent opinion on child soldiers culpability about the actions committed after indoctrination by militant groups. Johnny Mad Dog strays from this narrative by offering a more nuanced perspective on child soldiers actions and life by utilizing voices of victims and age in presenting a more rounded opinion on violence perpetrated by child soldiers. Johnny, the child soldiers the movie focuses on, in his introduction to us completely decimates a family unit by forcing their young son to shoot and kill his family before forcefully joining their ranks. Among other acts committed by him in the film include theft from the poor and handicapped, more murder, and rape. He earns the name Mad Dog in his group of soldiers, which are reminiscent of a twisted Lost Boys group, for his rabid and violent fighting style.
The movie often switches between perspectives by focusing on Johnny before shifting to the character Laokole, a young girl from a village which was turned into a battleground by Johnny’s group. In the ensuing battle she loses her young brother and spends the majority of the film attempting to seek medical attention for her fatally shot father, who eventually dies and forces her to bury …show more content…
We see the indoctrination process, him mourning, his childish pride in being smarter than an adult, there are even moments of humor. The end scene of the movie where Laokole can finally defend herself against what would have been rape by Johnny and begins to beat him with his own rifle starts out as a victorious moment soon just leaves me feeling despondent over the entire situation. While the film offers a complex perspective on punishment of child soldiers, it makes one thing very clear, when dealing with child soldiers there is no ‘straight
The movie often switches between perspectives by focusing on Johnny before shifting to the character Laokole, a young girl from a village which was turned into a battleground by Johnny’s group. In the ensuing battle she loses her young brother and spends the majority of the film attempting to seek medical attention for her fatally shot father, who eventually dies and forces her to bury …show more content…
We see the indoctrination process, him mourning, his childish pride in being smarter than an adult, there are even moments of humor. The end scene of the movie where Laokole can finally defend herself against what would have been rape by Johnny and begins to beat him with his own rifle starts out as a victorious moment soon just leaves me feeling despondent over the entire situation. While the film offers a complex perspective on punishment of child soldiers, it makes one thing very clear, when dealing with child soldiers there is no ‘straight