''Johnny Mad Dog'' is a 2008 French/Liberian

war film War film is a film genre concerned with warfare, typically about navy, naval, air force, air, or army, land battles, with combat scenes central to the drama. It has been strongly associated with the 20th century. The fateful nature of battle s ...

directed by

Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire (born 31 December 1968), is a French filmmaker, producer and screenwriter. He is best known as the director of films '' Johnny Mad Dog'', '' A Prayer Before Dawn'' and ''La Mule''. Personal life Sauvaire was born on 31 De ...

and based on the novel '' Johnny chien méchant'' (2002) by the Congolese author

Emmanuel Dongala Emmanuel Boundzéki Dongala (born 1941) is a Congolese chemist and novelist. He was born in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, in 1941. He was Richard B. Fisher Chair in Natural Sciences at Bard College at Simon's Rock until 2014. As a chemist, hi ...

. It tells the story of a group of child soldiers fighting for the

Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy The Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) was a rebel group in Liberia that was active from 1999 until the resignation of Charles Taylor ended the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003. While the group formally dissolved after the w ...

(LURD) rebels in 2003, during the Second Liberian Civil War. The film stars Christopher Minie (as Johnny), Daisy Victoria Vandy (as Laokolé), Dagbeh Tweh, Barry Chernoh, Mohammed Sesay and Joseph Duo.

Plot

The teenage rebel Johnny Mad Dog leads the small group of younger boys commanded by the older General Never Die, who feeds them cocaine. The film follows the group's march towards the capital

Monrovia Monrovia () is the capital city of the West African country of Liberia. Founded in 1822, it is located on Cape Mesurado on the Atlantic coast and as of the 2008 census had 1,010,970 residents, home to 29% of Liberia’s total population. As th ...

, and follows them in a gritty realistic manner as they move through a series of towns and villages, where they terrify and often execute the population. The soldiers are depicted as almost feral, committing acts of pillage and rape, with scant regard for even their own lives. They wear a variety of outlandish outfits – including butterfly wings and a wedding dress – and have nicknames such as No Good Advice, Captain Dust to Dust, and Chicken Hair.Johnny Mad Dog
". Sundance Institute. Retrieved 4 July 2010.

Production

The actors were mostly aged 10 to 15, including Christopher Minie, Daisy Victoria Vandy, Dagbeh Tweh, Barry Chernoh, Mohammed Sesay, and Joseph Duo. All were unknowns when cast; some were themselves former child soldiers.Burke, Gavin.

". entertainment.ie. Retrieved 4 July 2010.

References

External links

* * * {{italic title 2000s political drama films 2008 films Anti-war films French war drama films French political drama films Films about child soldiers Films about war crimes Films shot in Liberia Films based on novels Liberian drama films English-language French films English-language Liberian films 2000s war drama films 2008 drama films Films directed by Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire 2000s French films