As students left for holiday break, across the world the United Nations warned of a looming genocide in South Sudan. Enough Project Founding Director John Prendergast observed:
“Every genocide early warning system is flashing red in South Sudan today. All of the classic elements are present for mass atrocities to unfold, and when atrocities are targeted at specific communities on the basis of their identity, that is genocide.”
In the face of such dire warnings, student activists mobilizing group momentum for the new semester can’t forget these early signs. It’s important to come together as a community to build interest laying the groundwork for future action. Hosting a film screening is something every community leader can do. As the semester gets into full swing, one film to add to the roster is The Good Lie.
The film tells the story of 20,000 displaced children who traveled thousands of miles on foot during the Second Sudanese Civil War to reach refugee camps in Kenya. Separated from their families by the war, these children grew up together and came to be known as the "Lost Boys and Girls of Sudan." The Good Lie follows the journey of four siblings as they take refuge and integrate into life in the US. The movie features Academy Award-winner, Reese Witherspoon and House of Cards actor, Corey Stoll, but most importantly the audience follows the stories portrayed by Emmanuel Jal and Ger Duany, the main characters, who are both “Lost Boys” in real life and survivors of the Second Sudanese Civil War.
With the support of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Enough Project constructed a curriculum, in conjunction with the screening of the film, to teach the history of war in Sudan and South Sudan. The Good Lie is a versatile tool for student activists because it covers issues including overcrowded refugee camps, child soldier recruitment, and mass atrocities. Student organizations ranging in focus from refugee awareness to international justice to faith and community can find a way to incorporate the film’s message to their audience. Screening and discussing a film is often an accessible entry point for working on issues that can seem too complicated or distant.
To host a screening on your campus, contact Enough’s Educational Outreach Associate Marissa Sandgren at [email protected] to receive a copy of the film, resources, and information on ways to take action to support peace in Sudan and South Sudan.