On Wednesday evening I watched a documentary with some friends that I’d first seen at Sundance in 2007. War Dance tells the story of three Ugandan children who have been profoundly affected by their country’s ongoing civil war. The experiences these children recount are unbelievably tragic: stories of murder, abduction and displacement color their childhood memories.

And yet somehow beauty emerges from within the stories. The three children, along with many of their classmates, participate in a nation-wide dance competition. Whether the music and dance become a means of escape or a demonstration of a reality free of war could be debated. What the filmmakers make clear is that when these children of war are dancing something about their world begins to make sense.

War Dance is available for rent. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Related…

• Watch the trailer on YouTube.