Exposing the blatant rising genocide in Darfur with an unflinchingly open and uncensored look at the crimes against humanity plaguing the Black African people in the region, the hard slap in the face The Devil Came On Horseback is quite possibly the most important documentary of our time. U.S. Marine Captain Brian Steidle, volunteering to “monitor the cease fire” in Sudan years ago, stumbled upon the mindless, soulless destruction of the villages and lives in the western region of Darfur against the natives by the government run Janjaweed. Armed with nothing but a camera, he took photograph after photograph chronically atrocity after atrocity: destroyed homes, mangled and charred bodies of men, women and children, the calm testimony of the Arab Janjaweed claiming the Black Africans to be an inferior race, explaining the government directly funded their mission. Steidle became a helpless witness to the slaughter, unable to act, unable to fight. After six months, he returned to the States armed with his photographs and a message. He was met with apathy and false promises by many, and to this day he struggles to raise awareness and resolute action in the country and the UN.

The Devil Came On Horseback is a powerful and powerfully important film. Using Steidle’s photographs and direct testimony, the film is an emotionally charged and desperate plea for action. It is a crisis that deserves the world’s full attention, and the very least anyone can do is see this film, spread awareness, visit http://www.savedarfur.org and contribute in some way. There is no reason we all shouldn’t be doing more. If you need any proof of that, this film is it.

Photo by Zsolt Szigetvary