Title: The Redemption of General Butt Naked
Year: 2011
Director: Danielle Anastasion
Country: U.S
Language: English
Language: English
The
Redemption of General Butt Naked has been described as a “compelling
portrait of an extraordinarily complex personal odyssey” (Turan, K) Indeed this
film is an incredibly thought provoking documentary that is definitely a
challenge to get through, and in no way do I mean that in a negative way. It will
force you to confront more than one demon, and make you question the nature of
forgiveness. Can you forgive a monster? Can you forgive a boogeyman? All the
while you will find yourself soaked in tears at this numbing film. Numbing
because it completely shock you and absorbs you like few films can. Will you be
the same after this experience? Definitely not. Your world will have been
shaken, your faith distraught. Should you not moved by this, I would suggest
that you are made of stone.
Forgiveness is a central theme of this
film, as it is in the core of life. If you have not had any personal troubles
with someone then you might not have lived. For in living, there is always a
chance of ruffling up some feathers. Everyone who has ever lived has apologized
and had to forgive someone for certain actions. People feel a certain pride in
themselves when they forgive, possibly because they think they are a better
person. Indeed the center of Christianity is forgiveness, Jesus taught that
everybody should “forgive” and turn the other cheek. However, forgiveness is
not always easy, in-fact in many situation it can be damn hard to do. In a
family abuse situation, where the parents have horribly abused a child, the
child may never forgive the person. Though, many people will point out that not
forgiving someone when they have apologized is the wrong and slightly inhumane
thing to do. Those people, who claim that forgiveness is always easy and right
(which included myself until I watched this film) have never met Joshua Milton
Blayhi.
Joshua Milton Blayhi- aka General Butt
Naked- is what the boogeyman is afraid of. Don’t let the name fool you, General
Butt Naked was one of the most ruthless and destructive warlords during Liberia’s
decade plus Civil War. He was called General “Butt Naked” because he fought
literally butt naked. He roamed Liberia only with a pair of leather shoes and
an AK-47, if you saw this naked man you’d likely be dead within a matter of
seconds. He believed being naked in battle would give him supernatural powers
and make him indestructible, bullets would not penetrate him. As early as
twelve he would give a monthly sacrifice to Satan, who he claimed he often met,
this sacrifice would regularly include
eating the victim’s heart. He led an army of child slave soldiers and is said
to have killed thousands. Then when the
war was coming to a close, and he was losing, he had an epiphany and converted
to Christianity. From there he traveled far and wide, spreading the Gospel s
and the words of God wherever he went.
He of course faced great scrutiny and
hatred from many. A lot of people refused to accept this change and wanted his
head on a platter- and who can blame them? Do we even know if General Butt
Naked is telling the truth when he says he converted? He did so, when he was
losing the war. He suddenly abandoned his child soldiers, perhaps this great
epiphany is a hoax to assure him that he won’t be killed? What I like about the
film, is that it doesn’t give us a definite answer, it lets us ponder these
questions. However, if he has truely changed then why should we always bring up
his past? Isn’t forgiveness about trust? Can we stay angry at a situation
forever? This is the great challenge The
Redemption of General Butt Naked presents. I’ve seen this film about five
times now, and I still can’t make a decision. It’s very hard to get out of my
head.
In conclusion, if you want a very challenging
and thought provoking film this is definitely for you. Your mind will absorb
this film, and even if you think of yourself as a very forgiving person, you
will have many doubts after this. A great documentary changes your views, and
this is definitely mind altering. Not for the weak of heart, not for the weak
of mind. Praise it! 4/5
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