Everyday Activist - A Haunting History (MLJFF 2016)

Posted on Wednesday, November 16, 2016 at 06:00 PM

A Haunting History (MLJFF 2016)

Movie Review by Everyday Activist X CalgaryMovies.com

A Haunting History seemed like a strange name for a film centering on a man who leaves South Sudan to come back years later as a lawyer. I probably would have called it “Tourist in My Own Country”. Coming from the west, Anuol sets up his law practice in South Sudan and faces a number of “insults” from his fellow countrymen. He can’t quite understand why so much disorder exists at home. When people try to explain the situation to him, he can’t quite wrap his head around it. They even call him an American. Luckily he takes it could naturedly to remind them he’s South Sudanese.

Back in the 1990s with the Rwandan genocide, more African countries were at war. Sudan split into two sections, North Sudan and South Sudan. The fighting created many refugees including Anuol. Sponsors came into help him complete his education and return to South Sudan to help his country. His family stayed behind, so he had roots to come back to. One of the most touching moments was not only reuniting with his mother, but going through the songs and memories of their shared past. Unfortunately, many of the memories were full of death, violence and anguish.

Anuol feels that a monument to commemorate the victims of the violence in the 1990s will reduce repeat civil wars as people will remember. His idea is met with opposition as people think that the past should stay in the past, but more importantly a reminder may be met with more violence. Some of the leaders of the present government were directly involved in the previous civil war. The peace enjoyed by the citizens is tenuous at best. During the Independence celebrations, Anuol points out that the military displays that his family is clearly used to, offends him.

Eventually, the peace treaty breaks when the President does a cabinet shakeup and South Sudan plunges into violence once again. When peace re-establishes, Anuol has a renewed sense purpose to take care of his family and country. His upbringing in the West gives him a different perspective to help introduce new ideas; however he has to learn to work within the current South Sudanese framework; a journey for him within itself.

A Haunting History will screen as part of the Marda Loop Justice Film Festival 2016 at River Park Church on Saturday November 19th at 6:00 pm.

The guest speaker will be Khor Top. Born in the Upper Nile State of Sudan Khor Top fled his country during the war to live as a refugee in camps in Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya. He immigrated to Canada in 2002. Khor Top is a leader in Calgary's South Sudanese community. Khor is a human rights and multicultural advocate currently working for the Catholic Family Services of Calgary. Khor has been nominated or won a number of peace, human rights and community service awards.

Calgary Showtimes: Marda Loop Justice Film Festival 2016 > | A Haunting History >