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Summer 2003 and a bloody urban battle, fought largely by teenage soldiers, raged through the streets of Monrovia. It would be the final battle of a decade-long civil war between loyalists to President Charles Taylor's government and the rebel forces, LURD. With bodies strewn across the streets, cut down by random gunfire and stray mortar shells, a single question was on everyone's lips: When would the US armed forces arrive' A country founded by freed slaves in the 19th century, with a constitution written in Harvard, Liberia's fortunes have long been intertwined with the US. At great personal risk, co-director James Brabazon travels with the rebels, mostly boys, on their way to Monrovia, while director Jonathan Stack interviews Taylor, and many others affected by the crisis. Filled with raw footage that captures the human anguish behind the catastrophe, [Liberia: An Uncivil War] is a vital documentary that makes us witness to a war that, like Rwanda, Western powers would prefer to ignore. It was winner of the Special Jury Award at Amsterdam Documentary Film Festival. Contains scenes that may offend some viewers --- D/P Jonathan Stack P James Brabazon WS Gabriel Films TD video/ col/2004/102mins Jonathan Stack's films are [The Farm: Angola, USA] (1998), [Liberia: An Uncivil War] (MIFF 05).
