My Reflections of Kassim the Dream Film at GIFF 2009

Tonight I went to my second event of the Gasparilla International Film Festival 2009 . An incredible film was featured, "Kassim the Dream", and again I attended as a guest and co-marketer of the event with Keisha Pickett of Pickett Public Relations Group. along with members of my e-magazine, TheListbyKeto. You just had to be there to see it because this blog cannot do it justice!

About the Film from Kassim the Dream Website:

This is the story of World Champion Boxer, Kassim "The Dream" Ouma - born in Uganda, kidnapped by the rebel army and trained to be a child soldier at the age of 6. When the rebels took over the government, Kassim became an army soldier who was forced to commit many horrific atrocities, making him both a victim and perpetrator. He soon discovered the army's boxing team and realized the sport was his ticket to freedom. After 12 years of warfare, Kassim defected from Africa and arrived in the United States. Homeless and culture shocked, he quickly rose through the boxing ranks and became Junior Middleweight Champion of the World.

Kassim, now age 27, seems to have obtained the American Dream with his jovial nature, fame and hip hop lifestyle. As Kassim trains for his next world title fight against Jermain Taylor in Little Rock Arkansas, keeping his demons out of the ring becomes increasingly difficult. His desires to reunite with family in Uganda intensify when Kassim's only hope for a safe return is a military pardon from the president and government responsible for his abduction.

You can't possibly watch the story and not have a heart for the immeasurable pain & suffering that people go through in other countries of the world terrorized by war from within and without. No matter how hard it may get in the United States, we don't have to worry about our military breaking into our houses, executing our loved ones & turning us into slaves. Anyone who can survive that, achieve great accomplishments, and still be a great person like Kassim has a strong heart.

Kassim the Dream Trailer-GIFF 2009