The Redemption of General Butt Naked Review- By Michael Carlisle

Title: The Redemption of General Butt Naked

Year: 2011

Director: Danielle Anastasion

Country: U.S
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