Kassim The Dream

I attended a few movies at the Tribeca Films Festival, and one of them really stood out and left a lasting impression on me, so naturally, I felt the need to let you all know about it!

So, I had read little blurbs that summed up independent films in about two sentences, but for some reason, I knew I had to reserve a seat for Kassim the Dream. The headline stated that it would be film about a former child soldier turned winning boxer, and it would about the triumph of man over his surrounding obstacles. I was intrigued.

As I settled down into my far left seat at the front of the theater (it was packed!) I was ready, snacks in hand. I began the film expecting a lot, and the film ended with me feeling filled with curiosity, understanding, sadness, and happiness.

This is a summary of the story: Kassim was attending a boarding school in Uganda when rebel soldiers came, attacked his school and took him and his classmates into their army. The very first night, Kassim was forced to kill other children, and he had to do it or else he would have been killed. He was only six years old.

He stayed in this hell until he was 12 years old and the rebel army then became the government. In military boxing, he found his solace. He still hadn't seen or heard from his family. One quote that really stuck with me from the documentary film is that when Kassim, the real Kassim, said as a kid, torturing people was fun. Fun? It does make you sort of sick to hear someone say that. He, as a child, killed women, children, and men.