Main content

Life 6 - The Unforgiven

If you are not affiliated with a college or university, and are interested in watching this film, please register as an individual and login to rent this film. Already registered? Login to rent this film.

Across the world it's increasingly recognized that civil conflict is as big a barrier to development as illiteracy or illness. Once war-torn countries can struggle for decades with its legacy. Liberia is still struggling to establish law and order, establish security for its people and find roles for ex-combatants. But can countries like Liberia — until recently ravaged by fighting of unspeakable savagery — forgive and forget in the absence of a proper legal process to try those responsible for war crimes?

One man who believes that only God has the answer to this dilemma is evangelical pastor Joshua Milton Blahyi. He recently travelled to Kenya to help a peace and reconciliation process after the bloodshed which followed its disputed election. And Mr Blahyi should know. He was once known as General Butt Naked, a warlord who admits to some of troubled West Africa's most horrific war crimes.

The general submitted himself to Liberia's own Truth and Reconciliation process at the end of 2007. In his testimony to the TRC, he admits to responsibility for 20,000 murders and cannibalism. He says it's up to the discretion of the TRC to decide his fate (it's due to report later this year), but that God's already given him a second chance — he's changed his ways, and can now help guide other former ex-combatants to rebuild Liberia.

So can — and should — the general and other perpetrators of atrocities really be forgiven for cannibalism and child murder? Many, after all, are still celebrated as heroes and role models by large numbers of Liberians. And in a country where evangelical Christianity underpins a culture of impunity for those responsible for 14 years of vicious civil war, most people advocate (or are encouraged to advocate) forgiveness.

But if the general and others like him are forgiven, what can be the sanction for future warlords? If the so-called war criminals are punished and held to account, how far will Liberia need to go — when almost everyone was involved in the factions in one way or another? What's the best forward - do you name and shame, and potentially destroy the fabric of Liberian society, or forgive and forget, and allow the perpetrators to go on living in the community — unpunished and unchecked, and potentially ready for renewed fighting.

Distributor: Bullfrog Films

Length: 27 minutes

Date: 2008

Genre: Expository

Language: English

Grade: 7-12, College, Adult

Color/BW:  Color

Closed Captioning: Available

Existing customers, please log in to view this film.

New to Docuseek? Register to request a quote.