'The Epic Story of the Battle for the International Criminal Court'

Late in the 20th century, in response to repeated mass atrocities around the world, more than 120 countries united to form the International Criminal Court (ICC)—the first permanent court created to prosecute perpetrators (no matter how powerful) of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide.

The Reckoning follows dynamic ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo and his team for 3 years across 4 continents as he issues arrest warrants for Lord’s Resistance Army leaders in Uganda, puts Congolese warlords on trial, shakes up the Colombian justice system, and charges Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir with genocide in Darfur, challenging the UN Security Council to arrest him. Building cases against genocidal criminals presents huge challenges, and the Prosecutor has a mandate but no police force. At every turn, he must pressure the international community to muster political will for the cause.

Like a deft thriller, The Reckoning keeps you on the edge of your seat, in this case with two riveting dramas—the prosecution of unspeakable crimes and the ICC’s fight for efficacy in its nascent years. As this tiny court in The Hague struggles to change the world and forge a new paradigm for justice, innocent victims suffer and wait. Will the Prosecutor succeed? Will the world ensure that justice prevails?

Directed by Pamela Yates
95 minutes
2009
A Skylight Pictures Film

Tags for this entry: Documentary, ICC

2 Comments

Bruce Fletcher | March 13, 2009 2:58 PM

The International Criminal Court is the most important statement for civilization and humanity in the world today. Countries all have individual agendas that cloud truth and rarely stand for the innocent. This court and a free independent press are the only voice the innocent can depend on. In this time of moral decay and selfcentered society these two groups are beacons of light that must be preserved.

John Morton | March 18, 2009 4:07 PM

Drug legalizer and megaspeculator George Soros funds the ICC.

Hardly a glowing indictment is it. Pun intended.