The Redemption of General Butt Naked movie

The unique subject at the center of directors Daniele Anastasion and Eric Strauss' intimate and life-affirming documentary The Redemption of General Butt Naked is a Liberian warlord by the name of General Butt Naked who refashions himself as an evangelist and humanitarian under the name Joshua Milton Blahyi. Anastasion and Strauss follow Blahyi at length as he attempts to help former child soldiers from his private army and reaches out to the families of past victims of his violence. There are many quality documentaries and dramas that deal with Africa's violent civil wars. Anastasion and Strauss distinguish their film by focusing on one special individual, this warlord once known for leading his army with nothing more than an AK-47 and a pair of leather shoes. By the end of the documentary, the co-directors offer audiences the chance to decide whether Blahyi is sincere about his path of redemption or whether it's a fraudulent grasp at survival as Liberia's Truth and Reconciliation Commission put him on trial. Recently debuting in the U.S. Competition section of the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, the Part2 Pictures production offers a subject that's both political and spiritual in nature, offering multiple routes to attract target audiences. With positive reviews and news coverage about Blahyi likely, The Redemption of General Butt Naked would be a solid acquisition for a distributor committed to political documentaries.

To their credit, Anastasion and Strauss never offer their opinion on Biahyi or tilt their documentary towards one side. They offer the history behind Liberia's brutal 14-year Civil War; reveal the horrific acts of the warlords, including Butt Naked, that supported Samuel Doe after he assassinated Liberia's President, William Tolbert; and follow Butt Naked after he leaves the war and reinvents himself as the preacher.

Whether you believe Blahyi's redemption or not—and Sundance audiences appear to be split down the middle—there's no denying the great drama Blahyi provides to the film as he struggles to make peace with former victims and inspire the child soldiers who once killed for him to follow him on a newfound, moral path.

The Redemption of General Butt Naked is one of those amazing documentaries that gives you the impression nothing escaped the directors. The cameras capture Blahyi when he seems to be at his best and they continue to roll when he abandons his church to hide in exile.

Anastasion and Strauss, who have both worked on numerous documentaries for National Geographic, know how to build their story towards a dramatic climax and Redemption finishes with extraordinary drama.

It's worth noting that the Anastasion and Strauss do not bring the film to an end with a definitive statement about the validity of Blahyi's transformation into a Christian, nor do they cover the numerous other warlords responsible for the Liberian tragedy. They keep the spotlight solely on Blahyi, present the up-to-date actions of his life and allow audiences to make their own judgments.

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Director: Daniele Anastasion and Eric Strauss
Genre: Documentary
Rating: Unrated
Running Time: 84 minutes
Release: Unset