THE CHILD SOLDIER'S NEW JOB

Cinemavixion Review

Mads Ellesøe's investigative documentary, "The Child Soldier's New Job" (2016), offers a stark and unsettling look into the dark underbelly of the privatized war industry. Through diligent investigation, confidential documents, and harrowing testimonies, Ellesøe exposes how Western private military companies, often funded by entities like the U.S. Department of Defense, recruit former child soldiers from African nations to serve as low-paid security personnel on military bases in conflict zones such as Iraq. The film powerfully illustrates the ethical void that arises when profit motives override human rights, revealing how individuals, once victims of brutal civil wars, are re-traumatized for as little as $16 a day. "The Child Soldier's New Job" critically examines the disconnect between the industry's self-proclaimed codes of conduct and the reality of unenforced regulations, highlighting the exploitation of the world's most vulnerable populations for cost-cutting purposes. With a compelling narrative and a damning indictment of a globalized, deregulated war market, this documentary is an essential watch for anyone concerned with global justice and the profound human cost of outsourced conflict. The film's credibility is further bolstered by an IMDb rating of 7.2/10.