Pray the Devil Back to Hell

Pray the Devil Back to Hell
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Name	Pray the Devil Back to Hell
Director	Gini Reticker
Producer	Abigail Disney
Starring	Leymah Gbowee, Virginia Woolf is not relevant here, instead use Asatu Bah Kenneth, Etty Bayunveld
Released	2008

Pray the Devil Back to Hell is a documentary film that showcases the efforts of a group of Liberian women, including Leymah Gbowee and Asatu Bah Kenneth, who came together to bring an end to the Second Liberian Civil War. The film highlights the struggles and triumphs of these women, who were influenced by the works of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, as they worked towards achieving peace in their country, with support from organizations like the United Nations and Oxfam. The movement, which was also inspired by the Nobel Peace Prize laureates Wangari Maathai and Aung San Suu Kyi, demonstrates the power of nonviolent resistance and the impact that women can have in bringing about change, as seen in the Rwandan Genocide and the Bosnian War. The film features interviews with key figures, including Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female President of Liberia, and Desmond Tutu, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

● Introduction

The documentary film Pray the Devil Back to Hell was released in 2008 and was directed by Gini Reticker, who has also worked on films like The Heart of the Matter and A Decade of Dissent. The film was produced by Abigail Disney, who has produced other documentaries like The Armor of Light and The Trials of Spring, and features music by Blake Leyh, who has also worked on films like The September Issue and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. The film's title is inspired by a Liberian proverb, which reflects the women's determination to bring peace to their country, with the support of organizations like the African Union and the European Union. The film has been screened at various film festivals, including the Tribeca Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival, and has won several awards, including the Best Documentary Feature award at the Tribeca Film Festival.

● Background

The Second Liberian Civil War was a brutal conflict that lasted from 1999 to 2003 and was marked by widespread violence and human rights abuses, with the involvement of groups like the Liberian United for Reconciliation and Democracy and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia. The war was fought between the government of Charles Taylor, who was later convicted of war crimes by the Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the rebel groups, including the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia. The conflict had a devastating impact on the country and its people, with thousands of civilians killed or displaced, and the economy and infrastructure severely damaged, as reported by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Rescue Committee. The women featured in the film, including Leymah Gbowee and Asatu Bah Kenneth, were motivated by their experiences during the war and their desire to bring about peace and stability to their country, with the support of organizations like the Carter Center and the National Endowment for Democracy.

● The Movement

The women's movement, which was led by Leymah Gbowee and other prominent women, including Asatu Bah Kenneth and Etty Bayunveld, used nonviolent tactics, such as protests and sit-ins, to pressure the government and rebel groups to negotiate a peace agreement, with the support of organizations like the African Women's Development Fund and the Global Fund for Women. The movement was inspired by the works of Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, and was also influenced by the Nobel Peace Prize laureates Wangari Maathai and Aung San Suu Kyi, who have also worked towards achieving peace and human rights in their respective countries, including Kenya and Myanmar. The women's movement was able to bring together women from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, including Christianity and Islam, and was able to mobilize support from the international community, including the United Nations and the European Union. The movement's efforts ultimately led to the signing of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement, which brought an end to the war and paved the way for the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as the first female President of Liberia, with the support of organizations like the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute.

● Documentary Film

The documentary film Pray the Devil Back to Hell features interviews with key figures, including Leymah Gbowee, Asatu Bah Kenneth, and Etty Bayunveld, as well as footage of the women's protests and sit-ins, and archival footage of the war and its aftermath, including the Battle of Monrovia and the Siege of Monrovia. The film also features music by Blake Leyh and was edited by Kate Taverna, who has also worked on films like The September Issue and The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. The film has been praised for its powerful portrayal of the women's movement and its impact on the peace process, and has won several awards, including the Best Documentary Feature award at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The film has also been screened at various film festivals, including the Berlin International Film Festival and the Cannes Film Festival, and has been broadcast on television networks like PBS and BBC.

● Impact and Legacy

The women's movement featured in the film has had a lasting impact on Liberia and has inspired similar movements in other countries, including Sierra Leone and Guinea. The movement's use of nonviolent tactics and its ability to bring together women from different backgrounds has been particularly influential, and has been studied by scholars and activists around the world, including at the Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley. The film has also helped to raise awareness about the importance of women's participation in peace processes and has inspired a new generation of women leaders, including Malala Yousafzai and Nadia Murad, who have also worked towards achieving peace and human rights in their respective countries, including Pakistan and Iraq. The film's legacy continues to be felt, with the United Nations and other organizations recognizing the importance of women's participation in peace processes and working to support women's movements around the world, including in Afghanistan and South Sudan.

● Reception and Awards

The documentary film Pray the Devil Back to Hell has received widespread critical acclaim and has won several awards, including the Best Documentary Feature award at the Tribeca Film Festival and the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. The film has also been nominated for several other awards, including the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature and the Emmy Award for Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Special. The film has been praised for its powerful portrayal of the women's movement and its impact on the peace process, and has been recognized for its technical excellence, including its editing and cinematography, which were done by Kate Taverna and Rebecca Richman Cohen, respectively. The film has also been recognized for its social impact, and has been awarded the Social Impact Award at the Phoenix Film Festival and the Human Rights Award at the One World Film Festival.

Category:Documentary films about women