As Joshua and I are becoming more involved in the refugee community in Atlanta, we are aware that many of the 'international' issues that I encounter on my travels often hit remarkably close to home. I wanted to note a few documentaries that help give a sense of the struggle of refugees both abroad and in the U.S.
Rain in a Dry Land – This film chronicles two years in the lives of two extended Somali Bantu families as they leave behind a two hundred year legacy of oppression in Africa to face new challenges in a strange new land. The film begins in January, 2004, at the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, where the featured families are stunned by what they learn about America in their "Cultural Orientation" class: refrigerators, stoves, bathtubs, elevators, stairs, buildings taller than one storey, schools, and all the things we take for granted in modern life.
God Grew Tired of Us- 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. 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.
Sierra Leone’s Refugee All Stars – A Documentary Film - This stunning documentary captures the triumphant story of six musicians who escaped the horrific violence of Sierra Leone's civil war, landed in a West African refugee camp and formed a band that would go on to travel the world. An unbelievable testament to the human spirit, the refugees' journey exemplifies the power of music. Directed by Zach Niles and Banker White, this film was honored by the American Film Institute in 2005.
Jun 13, 2008
Refugee Films
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