Apparently 100 million views, a sequel, a highly publicized meltdown and global notoriety weren't enough for the creators of "Kony 2012." They're back at it.
The web hit's originator, San Diego-based nonprofit Invisible Children, has launched a new documentary called "MOVE." The video 30-minute online film chronicles the rise and fall of the movement to create awareness about Joseph Kony and his alleged war crimes. The video appears to be affirmation of the organization's missteps and an attempt to highlight its undeniable success in spreading a message.
Invisible Children describes the film as its "last chapter," leading to its next step, which is to engage policymakers.
"Ultimately, we cannot arrest Kony," Jason Russell, nonprofit director, says in the film. "Only the leaders of the world can put pressure on him to surrender or arrest him."
The video features interviews with child soldiers and victims of Kony's violence, media clips including Romney and Obama pledging to stop him, and Russell discussing his public breakdown.
“I’m so sorry to the thousands of people who were confused, who were scared and who didn’t trust us anymore because of what happened, and I still live with that every day,” Russell says.
As in its past films, this one ends with a call to action. The organization is hosting a planned rally in Washington, D.C. on November 17. The event will have a Global Dance Night followed by a rally around the White House and a proposed summit between world leaders.
The documentary attempts to bring back the lost momentum the campaign received when it was launched last March.
The initial viral documentary was met with harsh criticism from Ugandans who argued that the video about Ugandan rebel leader, Joseph Kony, oversimplified the country’s long and complex history.
In March, KONY 2012 creator, Jason Russell, suffered a very public and very naked breakdown, about which he recently opened up to Oprah. Shortly after, Invisible Children released a sequel in response to the original video’s backlash but made no mention of the meltdown.
"MOVE" will be shown in schools and colleges all over with the intent of once again mobilizing the millennial generation.
“Kony 2012 was the start of an experiment about what our generation is capable of and it’s not over yet,” the narrator of "MOVE" says in the first minut. “How we finish will determine where international justice will fall from here. Whether you lead or you follow eventually everyone will have to move.”
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