Watch The Final Trailer For ‘Beasts Of No Nation’

Ostensibly going date and date, the mighty streaming service juggernaut has teamed with Bleeker Street to give the world a new film entitled Beasts of No Nation, arguably the biggest example of this changing theatrical landscape to date. An older boy pulls out a knife and cuts the youngster’s forehead; he then rubs a powdery substance into the gash.

“It’s a through-the-looking-glass”, says Fukunaga. I hadn’t earned it, I guess. I did not read the book so I can not compare the two. I don’t mean to throw that out lightly. With “Beasts of No Nation”, which has been adapted from the novel by Uzodinma Iweala, he proves just as adept with atmosphere and creating indelible characters. This one’s a little less successful, if only due to its similarity to other war movies.

“It’s definitely not an easy film to watch”, says Elba. What is that experience like when you come from one to the other?

“When you make an independent film like this it’s a real struggle to get anyone to see it at all”.

Special mention must be made of Abraham Attah, whose portrayal of Agu is as heartbreaking as it is revelatory.

Cary Joji Fukunaga has established himself as one of the best and most exciting up-and-coming filmmakers over the past decade in simple fashion: consistent excellence in a collection of movies (and one notable TV show) that share nothing in common except for the highest possible craft. The latter comes at the tail end of a lengthy single-take that, in terms of virtuosity, surpasses the one Fukunaga orchestrated during his stint helming season one of HBO’s True Detective, and stunningly captures the sheer, anarchic brutality of Agu’s circumstances. “The Battle of Algiers”, “Njinga: Queen of Angola”, “Django” and “Operation Small Axe” reflect more of what I believe we should be watching and making. I think people see me as too serious. This is especially true since the country in which these atrocities takes place remains anonymous, though the film was shot in Ghana. From the moment America beat Ghana in the World Cup and all the drivers and hotel cooking staff decided not to show up to work the next day… As reported by Variety, Elba nearly tumbled off a cliff.

That Netflix, a 1990s Web start-up once known for mass-mailing DVDs, is becoming an aggressive player in filmmaking and distribution has not gone unnoticed among the country’s largest theatre chains.

“It’s a compliment but I always get told, ‘Oh, you’re handsome”. Not the malaria part, obviously – that sucked. It ended up being remarkably beneficial. That’s how good this movie is being billed.

“It was rougher for Cary than anybody else”, Elba says, when the subject is brought up.

A short while after he was orphaned, a rebel guerrilla army led by the character played by Idris Elba stumbles upon him in the bush.

“It’s been really fun, in fact I just saw him yesterday in New York”, he smiles. Everyone went, ‘Ohhhh, the Commandant is here!

Fukunaga’s film is thus mired in a hazy, nightmarish fugue of violence and degradation, the director presenting a landscape of hellish depravity and amorality through the eyes of one young boy unwittingly swept up in his nation’s insanity.

“I was certainly nervous, I’m not gonna lie”, he laughs.

The searing child soldier drama will be available to Netflix subscribers on Friday. It’s a disturbing feeling to know that you’re feeling numb.

Fukunaga is a dazzling stylist, and at times the shifting palettes of the cinematography and the brilliant camera moves (he’s also the DP on this film) are so impressive as to be marginally distracting.

And how did that feel coming out of “True Detective,” which had gone so well? But my heart does kind of lie with these sorts of stories. They don’t have to be hard to make. I don’t want it to be an issue film.