This 30-minute interview with filmmaker Luis Mandoki and screenwriter Oscar Torres deals with the topic of children and their conscription in war. The content is informative and moving, but I wanted to hear more from Torres, who as a child lived in El Salvador during guerilla and government warfare, and escaped. Mandoki is eloquent in describing why the film was important to make and how he worked with Torres to get at a deeper story, but interestingly, it is he who provides the emotional content, not Torres.
Produced by the Maryknolls, who are known and respected for their social justice ministry, the program begins with a long, heavy-handed set up before we get to the interview. Once the host reflects on what a normal childhood is, the interview can begin. Unfortunately the interviewer is off mic, and you have to listen carefully to hear her questions, but the answers are clear. The program ends with a vox pop done with viewers leaving the film, and that's effective. On the whole, I think the anti-war message comes across well enough through the interviews; the host and the interviewer don't have to punch up that message themselves, as they do.