God Grew Tired of Us will be shown Tuesday, November 17, at 7 PM, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Door County (UUFDC) in Ephraim.
The film traces the footsteps of refugees fleeing war, poverty, and persecution ravaging Sudan since 1983. In 1987, Sudan’s Muslim government pronounced death to all males in the Christian south: 27,000 boys fled to Ethiopia on foot. In 1991, they were forced to flee to Kenya; 12,000 survived to live in a U.N. camp in Kakuma. Archival footage documents the 1,000 mile flight.
After raising themselves in the desert along with thousands of other parentless “lost boys,” Sudanese refugees John, Daniel and Panther have found their way to America, where they experience electricity, running water and supermarkets for the first time. Each man is articulate about his anxieties and aspirations throughout. It is a fascinating culture shock, one that shows their innocence in the face of our technology and their resolute determination to retain their culture. Always taking steps forward in opportunity, we see them work, experience bigotry, and come to terms with our way of life.
Capturing their wonder at things Westerners take for granted, this documentary, an award winner at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, paints an intimate portrait of strangers in a strange land. Writer/Director Christopher Quin has assembled a flowing presentation. God Grew Tired of Us is profoundly titled for John’s reflection of the Armageddon qualities of their native plight. It is also our view to a broader horizon and better understanding. Nicole Kidman narrates.
Movies That Matter is a project of the UUFDC Social Responsibility Committee, screening free films with significant social messages to the public each month. The UU Fellowship is located at 10341 Hwy. 42 in Ephraim. For more information, visit www.uufdc.org.
