Lost Boys of Sudan

[sbj405]

Just finished watching this movie. I definitely recommend it.

Here's some things that stuck out to me

* I was actually surprised at how little assistance the boys were given once they arrived in the US. They didn't really seem to have a mentor or anyone assisting them in the daily things. That being said, they seemed to figure it out.

* I was surprised, actually shocked at how nice the people were to them. One of the boys, Peter, attends high school in Kansas and the kids were very inclusive and welcoming.

* Not surprisingly, their boss at Walmart tells them that since it's hot in Africa the boys could work in heat gathering the carts.

* Their attitudes and comments about the American black people were interesting. It's as though even before they arrived they were prejudiced.

* I thought it was really sad that the boys felt they needed to forget their African culture when they arrived.

Any comments or opinions from those who say it?

[ikojo]

1. I had the same reactions to the movie when

I saw it this past summer.

*I too thought it was sad that the kids had inculcated dislike of African Americans and the AA culture (didn't someone in Africa tell them to stay away from the blacks who wear big clothes or something like that...it's been a few months since I saw the movie but I know someone said something like that).

*In the US assimilation is the name of the game. 100 years ago as Jews were streaming to the US, native born Jewish Americans, via the Yiddish press, encouraged the Jewish immigrants to shed all vestiges of their European identities. That usually meant becoming less overtly Jewish.

On the DVD, do they give an update on the boys?

I found the documentary to be very moving. I hope they all do well, although I suspect the kid who ended up in Kansas stands the best chance for success.

[sbj405]

2. The DVD has updates on the 2 main boys

Peter (the one that went to Kansas) graduated high school and is going to community college and working. He would like to study medicine.

The other one remained in Houston and was also going to college.

I'd be curious what happened to the others, because they didn't seem to be doing as much.

There's also a deleted scene with Peter and 2 Mormons missionaries. They are trying to talk him into getting baptized.