Masters of War

Masters of War – A film special on the impact of war
Organized by Filmhuis Den Haag & Leiden University College

As world leaders will soon gather in The Hague for the NATO summit, Filmhuis Den Haag and Leiden University College present Masters of War, a special film program exploring the profound and lasting effects of war on the world. Borrowing its title from Bob Dylan’s iconic protest song, this selection of films examines the brutality, absurdity, and human cost of conflict through different lenses—ranging from biting satire to raw documentary.

The program features three powerful, award-winning films:

The Act of Killing (Joshua Oppenheimer, 2012) – A chilling exploration of violence and impunity, this documentary prompts former Indonesian death squad leaders to reenact their atrocities in surreal cinematic forms.

The screening of 'The Act of Killing' will be introduced by Dr. Santy Kouwagam, postdoc at the Van Vollenhoven Institute for Law, Governance and Society. She is a legal scholar and practitioner with deep expertise in Indonesian law and a broad understanding of multiple jurisdictions, including English, German, French, American, and Singaporean legal systems. Her work focuses on comparative legal analysis, bridging diverse legal traditions, and addressing complex cross-border legal issues.

For Sama (Waad Al-Kateab & Edward Watts, 2019) – A deeply personal documentary chronicling life, love, and motherhood in war-torn Aleppo, offering an unflinching look at the cost of war on civilians.

The screening of 'For Sama' will be introduced by Dr. Hanne Cuyckens, expert in international law with a primary focus on international humanitarian law. She has written her PhD on the law of military occupation. Her further research more generally looks at contemporary issues of armed conflict, including where these issues might interact with terrorism. Hanne currently serves as educational director of LUC.

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (Stanley Kubrick, 1964) – A razor-sharp satire that exposes the madness of nuclear warfare and Cold War paranoia.

The screening of 'Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' will be introduced by Dr. Kai Hebel, Assistant Professor of International Relations. Dr. Hebel’s research interests include international security, diplomacy, international history, cultural studies and IR theory. He has published on a wide range of topics, including military intervention, the Cold War, transatlantic relations, EU foreign policy, US political culture, systems theory, simulation pedagogy and the cultural representation of evil. His book on Cold War negotiations will be published later this year. The screening will be introduced in English.

Through these films, Masters of War invites audiences to reflect on the global consequences of violence and power struggles. Join us for thought-provoking cinema and discussions on the impact of war—historically, politically, and personally.