Beasts of No Nation is a powerful and haunting Netflix original film that follows the brutal journey of Agu (played by Abraham Attah), a young boy caught in the midst of a civil war in an unnamed African country. Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, the film delves into the harrowing experiences of child soldiers and the psychological toll of war, offering an unflinching look at the horrors of violence and lost innocence.
The film begins with Agu living a peaceful life in his village with his family. However, when war breaks out, his village is attacked, and his family is torn apart. Agu’s father and brother are killed in a massacre, while Agu manages to escape into the jungle. Alone and traumatized, Agu is soon captured by a rebel group led by the ruthless and manipulative Commandant (Idris Elba), a warlord who recruits children to fight for his cause.
Under the Commandant’s influence, Agu is forced to become a child soldier. The film depicts his brutal initiation into the group, where he witnesses and commits atrocities that slowly strip away his humanity. Agu forms a bond with another young boy, Strika, who is mute and has also been scarred by war. Together, they try to survive the relentless violence, though the psychological damage becomes increasingly evident.
Throughout the film, Agu struggles with the guilt and trauma of his actions, haunted by memories of his family and the person he once was. Idris Elba’s performance as the charismatic yet chilling Commandant adds layers to the story, showing how he manipulates and exploits the children for his own power.
The film’s climax comes when the rebel group disintegrates, and the Commandant loses his authority. Agu is eventually taken in by a rehabilitation center, where he begins to process his trauma and attempts to regain his lost childhood. The ending is poignant but ambiguous, leaving viewers with the lingering impact of Agu’s trauma and the unresolved consequences of war.
