04.23.08
Review: “God Grew Tired of Us”
“S-U-D-A-N.” ~ “Yeah, but what does it mean?”
As the civil war in Sudan intensified in the 1980’s, tens of thousands of young Dinka children, mostly boys, were forced to leave the country in search for safety, and eventually ended up in the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya. Following in the footsteps of 2003’s “The Lost Boys of Sudan,” this powerfully observant labour of love by Christopher Quinn and Tommy Walker follows the lucky few who were allowed to relocate to the United States of America in search of new hope and a new life, without forgetting the land they came from and the people they left behind.
The film focuses mainly on the relocation of three remarkable refugees; Panther Bior and Daniel Abol Pach are to be roommates in Pittsburgh and John Bul Dau to Syracuse, New York. It is a lonely, difficult change where the, now, grown men have to adapt to an environment so vastly different to the one they are used to. They bring with them a strong sense of spirituality and a different way of life, only that is almost the exact opposite of American culture. Rather than change their ways completely in order to adapt, they, at first, merely do as they always do, and people are not always sympathetic towards them.
Past and present are woven together with harrowing archive footage that shows the hellish ordeal these boys went through, and the pain and suffering shown only makes the Lost Boys’ survival that much more admirable, life affirming even. Their physical adaptation in the United States is almost comparable to their adaptations when marching across the desert, surviving attacks from wild animals and almost dying from starvation and dehydration. In fact, thousands did die and that is what makes the survivors so inspiring. Even through all the hardships that are still difficult to comprehend and come to terms with for the viewer, they Boys keep their good will and faith when it would have been understandable for them to allow their suffering to consume them.
The “America” they have heard of that has almost become mythical and the harsh reality is that it is just as difficult to survive there as anywhere else. In addition, they are candid in their expression of how lonely and difficult life is in America, when the novelty wears off. After the discoveries of donuts and potato crisps, they have to pay bills, hold down jobs, get an education, send money back ‘home’ to help their friends and families {including multiple partners} and fend off an ineffable loneliness all at the same time. One of the boys, not focused on in the film, eventually becomes mentally unstable and has to be institutionalized. They are so used to their adopted lifestyle of forming close-knit communities wherever they go, that when the Boys drift apart as their workload increases, the anti-social American society starts taking its toll.
Their lives become very much influenced by the culture they are now immersed in. Their accents become slightly more American, younger Lost Boys are clearly adopting “hip-hop” mannerisms and ways of dressing, which disappoints some of the older Boys. However, integration would be too difficult if they were unable to, eventually, adapt in some way or another.
The simple clarity of vision allows this film, which does not explore all the themes it could of to their fullest extent, to be a complete eye opener that tells this resonant and urgent story of how these boys were forced to become men and never lost their faith in the process, and how they will continue survive wherever they may end up in the future.
Fatac Rating: ***½
God Grew Tired of Us. Directed by Christopher Quinn. Cinematography by Paul Daley. Music by Mark McAdam, Mark Nelson, Jamie Staff. Starring: Bul Dau, Panther Bior, Daniel Abul Pach. Running Time: 86 minutes. Age Restriction: All Ages. Year: 2007. Rating out of five stars.
MikeM said,
April 23, 2008 at 6:10 pm
*Que Pasa Barca*
lets break Man Utd!!!!!!!!
MikeM said,
April 23, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Sooo excited for the clash nd u??
Nick Plowman said,
April 23, 2008 at 6:15 pm
I AM GOING TO CUT YOU. seriously.
Craig Kennedy said,
April 23, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Jeez, Nick. For a guy who’s back in school, you’re still keeping up the movies and blogging. Way to go.
This is another one of those movies I saw the trailer for like 74 times and I kept telling myself I ought to see it, but I never got around to it.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: I really need to start focusing on documentaries more.
Nick Plowman said,
April 23, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Thanks, I still try. Mostly to the detriment of my homework, lol.
I would love to focus on docs more too, but they are not really ever released in SA, so I have to wait forever to see them…
Daniel said,
April 23, 2008 at 10:23 pm
Speaking of the trailer – it was pretty amazingly memorable for me because of U2’s “Walk On.”
I end up in the same place as you on this one, Nick, in terms of how deeply the themes were explored. However, I accept GGTOU as more informational than anything else; an awareness builder for ignorant Americans who ask questions like, “What does ‘Sudan’ mean?” (I know, they were kids, but there are certainly some adults who would ask them same thing). To that extent I think it’s an excellent film, especially for those who live in a community in which the Lost Boys or other Sudanese have settled.
If I may, some further watching/reading on the subject:
The Independent Spirit Award-winning doc, “The Lost Boys of Sudan,” 2003
Emma’s War, by Deborah Scroggins, 2002 – being adapted for a Tony Scott-directed feature in 2009, possibly starring Nicole Kidman (I raise an eyebrow)
What is the What, by Dave Eggers, 2006
Nick Plowman said,
April 24, 2008 at 4:03 am
The trailer was, I loved it. When that song started playing, and the people in Kenya started dancing…I was sold on the film immediately.
“an awareness builder for ignorant Americans” I like that indeed, yeah.
Awesome, I have since seen Lost Boys of Sudan, before I saw God Grew Tired of Us, and it was really eye opening. Horrifying even.
I will keep and eye out for Emma’s War and What is the What too, thanks Danny.
Matthew Lucas said,
April 24, 2008 at 4:01 pm
I love love LOVE this movie. It was one of those films that I wanted to show EVERYONE as soon as it was over. It’s really a film everybody should see. Very moving stuff.
Nick Plowman said,
April 24, 2008 at 6:17 pm
So true! And it will no doubt leave cinemas as quickly as it came….it is probably off circuit now. Shame.
Kaelin said,
September 23, 2009 at 4:47 am
To the one that said they liked the part of the boys dancing to that one song.
What is the name of that one song and who is it by?