Thirteen years in the making, filmmakers Marcus Vetter and Michele Gentile are finally ready to share their new documentary, War and Justice, with the world. Set to screen at the Munich International Film Festival this summer, War and Justice is a politically charged exploration of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and its importance in keeping order in an increasingly disordered world. Billed as the “first and only true-life verité thriller” about this organization, War and Justice offers unparalleled access to the inner workings of the ICC and key players on the inside.

Established in 2002, the International Criminal Court investigates and tries individuals charged with the most horrific crimes impacting the international community. Located in The Hague, Netherlands, the ICC is somewhat of a last resort, only called upon when states belonging to the Nuremberg Legacy fail to act in their own best interest. Similar to the United Nations, the ICC is a non-partisan, humanity-first organization. The crimes the ICC oversees are some of the worst offenses, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and crimes of aggression.

Watch the War and Justice trailer here.

War and Justice follows three key people who have helped shape the future of the ICC: Benjamin Ferencz (prosecuting attorney of the Nuremberg Trials), Luis Moreno-Ocampo (ICC’s first prosecutor), and Karim Khan (its current prosecutor). Interviews with other notable figures, including Angelina Jolie and Julian Assange, further illustrate the worldwide support the ICC receives for their valiant work.

The film itself is a very matter-of-fact documentary, there are no bells and whistles. The archival footage of speeches from some of the most violent dictators, including Gadaffi and Putin, is horrific enough. While never exploitive for shock value, there are moments in the film that are hard to absorb. The most unsettling moment comes from Luis Moreno-Ocampo’s prosecution of the Congo’s unethical practices of recruiting child soldiers for their military. Harrowing footage shows militia stripping naked a young boy, who looks no older than ten, and forcing him into their vehicle. His cries are deafening and his powerlessness is heartbreaking.

War and Justice affirms that the biggest threat to our existence is “aggressive war.” While the ICC cannot keep all conflicts from escalating, the documentary shows the institution’s invaluable importance in keeping some semblance of worldwide order. Can justice replace war as a mechanism for resolving conflict? This is the question the film sets out to answer. And while there is no quick solution, the positive impact the ICC continues to make is a silver lining in the fight for an equitable and safer world.