Worth: $17.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Eiman Yousif, Siran Riak, Nazar Goma, Ger Duany, Issraa Elkogali Haggstrom
Intro:
At times a bleakly relevant tale of human suffering amplified by the threat of war and civil unrest, this story is not without its beauty, brightness, or hope.
A harrowing accident borne from a single moment of distraction tips the first domino in a line of chaos and hasty decisions that ultimately lead to the death of Santino, a young southern Sudanese man.
Heartbroken by her actions and wanting to assuage the guilt that plagues her for her part in Santino’s fate, northern Sudanese housewife Mona reaches out to Santino’s bereaved wife Julia and son Danny, offering a steady paycheck and a roof over their heads under the guise of needing to employ a new maid. Both reeling from the impact that Santino’s death had on their lives, the two newly entwined families must learn to navigate the unforeseen path that their lives have taken, all while the world around them trembles with the uncertainty of political upheaval.
Written and directed by Mohamed Kordofani, this first-time feature filmmaker doesn’t shy away from addressing controversial societal issues deserving of a spotlight. From religious discrimination to sexism to the all-pervasive racism of a Sudan on the brink of separation, Kordofani tackles his subject head on, be it through the eyes of young schoolboy Danny, suffering the harassment of bullies because of his heritage, or the casual racism that Mona’s husband Akram spouts without a second thought, regardless of his apparent willing welcome of Danny and Julia into his home.
Despite this serving as the screen debut of both leads, singer and actress Eiman Yousif and supermodel Siran Riak both give powerhouse performances in their respective roles of Mona and Julia. The energy between them is tense, intimate, and real, especially in their portrayal of grief — the kind of grief that comes from hopelessness and regret and is both visceral and gut-wrenching to witness.
At times a bleakly relevant tale of human suffering amplified by the threat of war and civil unrest, this story is not without its beauty, brightness, or hope. An intricately woven maze of relationships, both formed and broken, that serves as a reminder that the human desire for connection can sometimes be enough to cross even the deepest divide.
