Today you will finish the movie. At the conclusion of the movie I would like for you to write a reaction to the film on this blog in the comment section.
Afterwards in the time you have left you can continue filling in the information on the chapter 4 worksheets.
I look forward to being back tomorrow.
The entire film is an eye-opener when looking at the differences between a simple life in Sudan and a simple life in the USA. I really don't think people realize how much better a life in a village can possibly be. We are used to electricity, running water, heat and air conditioning, and telephones. But at the same time, we saddle ourselves with more daily responsibilities, like managing bank accounts, mortgages, boring jobs, drugs and alcohol, and intense expectations in school. We call ourselves civilized and yet we have more stress, weight problems, and evils borne of idle hands. It is just like James when he sees Mamere after years in the USA. James says, "Oh it is good to see you! You are fat!" Now, he didn't mean that in a bad way. But that just underlines the point of how much excess we have in the USA. Differences aside, I do wish all teachers, both here at this school and others, would show more videos like this one and the Matt Harding one. We must realize that we are not the greatest nation on Earth, but one of many and we must also learn about and love other cultures. -Brandon Poarch
ReplyDeleteThe movie was a very emotional movie that carried a lot of weight for the characters portrayed. Mamere did something very honorable by letting Theo go back to America instead of himself. After the shots of Theo in America, it went back to Mamere in Sudan where he watched children play and he smiled. Even though Mamere could not go back to America with his brother, he found joy in what he did and he looked at the situation he was in and saw the good in it. He was going to make the most out of the situation that he could. -Spencer Welland
ReplyDeleteIt was cool to see a movie told from the point of view of the refugees of a country with terrorism. We tend to only look at that from our point of view, or a developed countries point of view. The movie did a good job of bringing sympathy to the people of Sudan. I enjoyed the movie and thought it told a good story. I thought it was cool how Mamere gave up his passport for his brother it made me wonder if I would do the same thing in that situation.
ReplyDeleteConsidering that I was absent during the first part of the film due to the ACT, what I did see of the film intrigued me and the message was effectively presented. I understood from my viewing that there were three brothers, and one sister from Sudan who had immigrated to America but had been placed into different areas, the boys in Kansas City and the girl in Boston. The story follows these young immigrants as they try to make their new life with the help of Carrie, an employment counselor who helps them along the way in adjusting to their new surroundings and to help them find their sister. From what little I got to see today, I very much enjoyed the movie and intend to watch it fully on my own. Stories like this one are a prime example of the realities and hardships of immigrants trying to make better lives for themselves in America, making it a good choice for this class. - Caroline Norton
ReplyDeleteThis movie was interesting, to say the least. It was eye opening to see a film from the point of view of refugees who are transported to the United States. We saw the hardships that they faced along every step of the way. Their entire life was faced with tragedy, and it was terrible to watch. They lost their family and tribe, then along the way to their refuge they lost even more of their family. When they believed that everything would work out, they lost their sister due to paperwork and technicalities. This movie showed the hardships faced by refugees and immigrants and how their lives are changed drastically and how difficult it is to survive when forced out of your home to another country.
ReplyDeleteWell done.
DeleteThe movie provided a strong contrast between the western world and lesser developed countries, but also gave parallels that run deep in human nature. Despite our folk and popular cultural differences there is a common denominator between every human being. Family draws us closer, but it also grounds us to the reality of the world at large. A perspective previously undiscovered is revealed through the sacrifices made for family, even in the face of seemingly relentless setbacks that further separate family.
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