Beasts of No Nation

Set in the current day in an unnamed African country, BEASTS OF NO NATION tells the story of Agu (Abraham Attah), a bright, mischievous young boy who watches his loving family and his peaceful village destroyed by warring factions in his country's civil war. Alone and desperate in the bush after having run for his life, Agu is discovered by a band of rebel boys, covered in camouflage and carrying rifles. Like Agu, the boys have been orphaned and lost. They're held together by a charismatic leader, "Commandant" (Idris Elba), who has turned them into a "battalion" of young warriors using guerilla warfare to fight against the current government. Agu is recruited, trained, and taught that everyone he'll face in battle is responsible for his father's death. The boy finds himself in a chaotic world of war, where victims become predators, there are no clear-cut sides, and the frightened, isolated gang is indoctrinated, manipulated, and abused by the man who's both their savior and the enemy of their souls. Agu's narration guides the audience through this tragic journey.