Review of The Devil Came on Horseback (2007) by Stevenf — 11 Jun 2013

It's a bold move or even statement to open a documentary with various images depicting quite gruesome and nightmare-ridden scenes, and this documentary doesn't stop until some sort of message is nailed into your memory.

Brian Steidle, a former U.S. Marine captain, documents his time in Sudan during the Darfur conflict, here he is working for the African Union simply because he didn't want a "desk job" to further his training in the Marine Corps. He chronicles his time with only a camera, pen and paper as he makes it his mission to expose exactly what he has witnessed. With his military status, Brian had access to many parts of the Darfur that would otherwise be closed to the public, he watches as the rebel forces burn villages to the ground, a very publicised and horrific civil war.

Brian does a voiceover of various diary entries and emails sent back home to show just what is life was like when he was there. His meetings with the Janjaweed, arebel force who are funded by the Sudanese government, something they continuously deny, are quite powerful for the fact that their honesty can be overwhelming, and the acts of genocide committed from these parties might just be the most painful thing you could watch.

In terms of a film, the close-quarter shots and aerial views of burning villages are a proper reminder of the very real dangers going on and being shown. Many times Brian puts his life in danger, not necessarily for the perfect shot, but so he can show the world exactly what is happening, in an attempt to stop it. As he speaks about the moment the US government recognised the crimes as genocide, the distain in his voice can be heard, he has seen what is happening but the lack of action is apparent as the atrocities continue.

His inability to help, something he wasn't supposed to do, is clear as the film goes on, and he eventually decides its time to go.

The unfortunate barrier of politics and right way to do things initially stalled Brian from sharing his experience, but newspapers are a powerful agent, and so the truth came out.

Brian's candid and emotionally driven experiences are what makes this documentary so riveting, tragic but fascinating. But a word of warning, the pictures may never leave you, but perhaps that's the point.