“Not only was I returning to my roots for the first time in 30 years, I also went back to the landscape and the people so familiar and dear to me… The energy, the lust for life, the humor and dedication of the Ugandan people is stunning, even in areas that are still at war. And the stories of the ex-child soldiers are the most impressive of all. Their stories, combined with the people they have become despite everything.” ? Jean van de Velde Like [Johnny Mad Dog] and [Ezra], Congo-born van de Velde’s latest film focuses on the plight of child soldiers in Africa. But [The Silent Army] attempts to tell the story from an outsider’s point of view. Eduard is a restaurateur and single father to 9-year-old Thomas. Abu is the son of one of Eduard’s employees, and after he is kidnapped Thomas insists that Eduard head into warlord of the country to get him back. Eduard’s tale is punctured by sequences of Abu’s grueling indoctrination into one of Africa’s child armies?sequences that truly tell the hideous story.