magilroy Throughout the movie Innocent Voices, Luis Mandoki enlightens the viewer on the a tragic situation that took place in El Salvador. Based on a true story, Innocent Voices is about the struggles that kids had to endure during a war between the government and the guerrillas, a resistance group. Chava, the main character, is a young boy who is left the man of the house when his father leaves his family just as the country enters war. Chava displays bravery and brings a different point of view towards war and how it affects the kinds intermingled in it. From hiding under a bed from incoming bullets to spreading the word about the upcoming government child recruitment, Chava constantly does what he can to help his uncle, a guerrilla, and his family from being subjected to unfair treatment. Chava also begins to like a classmate of his and is cutely nicknamed "toad" by her. Through the child's perspective on war, director Luis Mandoki educated me on different social problems that occur in El Salvador including the lack of education. He also subtly introduces the reason for the war which is because the government tried taking land from the peasants. The many different social problems that the movie addresses was very refreshing compared to the constant flow of action movies seen in the U.S. This movie is an amazing movie which I would recommend to people with most any taste as it satisfies many different likes.

drhupp I have now seen this movie twice and I have greatly enjoyed it both times. It is more of a suspenseful movie as you have to wait for things to work themselves out. Chava was definitely my favorite character in the movie even though he was a bit stubborn at times. I've never seen a movie that has a plot relating to this one, where once you turn 12 you are taken to the military and forced to fight against rebel forces. That sounds terrifying to me as I think back on my twelve year old self. I couldn't do that! It's very easy to tell that this is nothing like an American film because for one, speaking Spanish, and the cultural values are much different than that of Americans. Overall, I liked this movie and how it is based off a true event that took place in El Salvador and I wouldn't change the ending at all as Chava was reunited with his mother.

sashabwood Innocent Voices, reflects very accurately the realities of the El Salvador conflict. I definitely do not agree with the previous reviewer, Alien Latino, who argues that the movie was too biased towards the leftist guerrillas. The evidence from the United Nations Truth Commission report about the conflict clearly indicates that the Military dictatorship and associated death squads were responsible for the majority of murders, massacres and human rights violations against civilians. The UN report indicates that indeed only 5 percent of any human rights violations were committed by the opposition fighters; also it was proved as indicated in the same UN report, that the FMLN guerrilla fights were not responsible for massacres of civilians however the military government and the associated death squads were found to be responsible for the majority.The movie also brought up the interesting issue regarding the activist role the church played in El Salvador trying to resolve the conflict. For example, in one scene a priest made a powerful statement to a group of villagers that "prayer is not enough!" This statement seemed to suggest joining and supporting the opposition movement. Many members of the church clergy were supportive of the opposition movement in El Salvador during the conflict and advocated social action against the oppressive military regime. As a result many church members were assassinated by the government forces. Indeed many clergy all across Central America, including El Salvador, starting around the 1960's, became involved in what became know as 'liberation theology' -a movement of the church that advocated social justice action and organizing against the systemic forces that oppressed the poor. This movement advocated that praying was not enough to end the terrible poverty and oppression of the peasants who were the majority of the population of El Salvador.In closing, Innocent Voices is a well-made movie, a simple story with likable characters and beautiful and realistic cinematography. I recommend it.As a footnote -it is interesting to note that the opposition movement portrayed in the movie, the FMLN, are a democratic party and the currently elected democratic government in El Salvador.

annahauser2000 Stunning film about the Salvadoran Civil War, told through the eyes of an 11-year-old boy, who, once he hits twelve, will be rounded up with other children and forced into military service, fighting for the US supported government. As shocking as the reality of the subject matter is, the film plays out peppered with good humor as we watch this mischievous little boy and his similarly mischievous friends carry on being children in spite of the horrors unfolding around them. Watching and laughing at these charming children brings a weight of sadness as we know they will soon have to grow up or die.Because the impoverished locals didn't stand a chance against the U.S. funded military machine of El Salvador, they had to resort to guerrilla warfare, which in turn prompted the creation of US sponsored death squads whose role was to spread terror amongst the locals. They did this by killing over 75,000 innocent people.