God Grew Tired of Us

Those who saw Lost Boys of Sudan may feel a sense of déjà vu watching this Sundance festival award-winning documentary directed by Christopher Quinn, since it also follows a group of refugees from the war-torn African region who struggle to establish new lives in the unfamiliar environment of the United States. Narrated by Nicole Kidman, God Grew Tired of Us chronicles the journeys of three young men from the thousands of Dinka displaced by natural disaster and human violence: Panther Bior, Daniel Pach, and John Bul Dau, seen here over a four-year-period recording their experiences in the Kenyan refugee camp in Kakuma, followed by their new lives in Pittsburgh and Syracuse. Although the background subject matter is tragic, the film is often humorous, uplifting, and genuinely heartwarming (especially when John discovers that some members of his family are still alive and we witness their joyous reunion), emphasizing the ways in which the lost boys band together to support one another and maintain their traditions in difficult circumstances. A fine documentary—and one sure to appeal to readers of Dave Eggers' recent similarly-themed novel What Is the What—this is recommended. [Note: DVD extras include audio commentary with director Christopher Quinn and the featured “lost boys,” a 16-minute “Finding the Lost Boys” featurette, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winning documentary.] (F. Swietek)