A film blog for students of my classes at Santa Clara University. Use this blog to discuss the films we are studying, classic films, current releases or production issues you encounter while making your own films.
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
God Grew Tired of Us - documentary class post
As we begin to discuss the editing process reflect upon the multiple storylines in this film. How did the editor combine them all into one narrative? How does each stand on its own as well as contribute to the larger film's story?
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Anonymous
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The editor begins the narrative of God Grew Tired of Us by using multiple individuals to explain the story of Sudan and what the situation is like. The narrative then focuses on two groups of individuals, one in Pittsburg and one in Syracuse. The editor combines their experiences through time to tell a story and selectively reveals shots of Sudan when it fits the VO. Each story on its own is very powerful and shows the experiences of these boys in Sudan as well as their adaptation to a new way of life and how their perception of the US changes after living here for a while. Combined, the two groups provide a more powerful story and show that it is not a solitary experience. The narrative complement each other and paint a very power story.
The editor brilliantly pieces personal stories together to tell one powerful narrative about the "lost boys" living in two different worlds. We began by discovering the atmosphere in Sudan-- we learned about the war, the hunger, and the death. We got a sense of where these men came from and what they have seen. The editor focused on three men-- John, Panther, and Daniel-- and followed them on their journey to America. It captured their many struggles and discoveries while living in Pittsburg. Each storyline could easily stand on its own; each man had their own backgrounds and families, different jobs and experiences in America, and goals that they wanted to reach while in the new country. Together, we got a true sense of the film's story. For example, the men talked about how they missed their families and became lonely. Each man worked hard for their families back in Africa and longed for the bonds they once had to their communities. Though the audience could understand this by just one man's story, together, they create something much more influential.
The film "God Grew Tired Of Us" follows the story of some of the Lost Boys of Sudan as they are moved to the United States and have to adjust to life in America. It is a very powerful film that captures the human spirit and the challenges that can come when leaving everything you know for a new life. The editor does an amazing job in this film by taking the stories of four individual men from Sudan and interweaving their separate stories into one narrative. By combining the individual stories when dealing with similar issues, like finding a job in America, adjusting to the little things in like that we take for granted in America like a functional bathroom, refrigerator, even television, or trying to make ends meet, the narrative is created. All of the Sudan men had to find jobs upon arriving in America, so the editor goes through each man's job hunt process. The editor shows them all having to wake up early and working multiple jobs and showing the stress and exhaustion that can come with it. When multiple men are contacting their family from Sudan, the editor combines these story lines to create a very emotional part of the film. It is techniques like this that make this film so powerful for the audience. Each story stands on it's own because it is unique from the others in it's own way. The film wouldn't be the same without John Dau and his dedication to helping his family back home, while becoming an activist here in the states. His reunion with his mother was the best part of the film. Akim, Daniel and Panther all had separate stories that added to the narrative as a whole. The film wouldn't have been the same without them.
In the film "God Grew Tired of Us", the editor combines 3 similiar, yet different stories together. The film starts by showing Sudan and the struggle the country faced. We learned of the separation between Northern and Southern Sudan and the issues that arose. The men headed towards Ethiopia, and shortly after to Kenya. In Kenya, we learn of 3 individuals who are getting to be relocated to America. Once in America, the editor focuses on their indivudal stories. 2 of the "lost boys" live in Pennsylvania and 1 in New York. We learned about each one and heard from them throughout their journey living in America. Each story stands on its own by showing each ones' story as if it were the only one. We learn each of their feelings, learnings, worries, and excitements living in America. The film will usually stick to one topic, like education, and then go through all 3 of their stories independently. The editor switches between each story constantly, blending them all together into one big storyline. This helps the film run seemlessly, as if it wasn't made up of 3 independent stories.
In the film, the multiple narratives combined are needed to provide the full picture of the struggles the Lost Boys went through. Each separarte profile of one of the Boys provides a new piece of information for the whole. It is also interesting to see the differences in each's experiences. While the boys all want to come to the U.S. to find a better life for themeleves and to ultimately help their families, they all go about it in different ways. Unlike other documentaries that I have seen, 'God Grew Tired Of Us' ties the multiple story lines together seemlessly. The viewer is not likely to get confused as the editor cut between the boys and the cities at subjects that coencieded accross the story lines.
In “God Grew Tired of Us” we see the story of “The lost boys” and the war in Sudan. One example of how the editor clarified the footage by setting up a narration while having a graphic of a map of Sudan. The narration switches from one of the lost boys, now grown up, to a female voice. The female voice gives the historical facts of the war in Sudan and the male voices are the personal experience of the lost boys. There was b-roll of Kakuma as John and Daniel talked about them having to escape overnight; parting ways with their parents. 27,000 5-10 year olds walking 1,000 miles from Sudan to the border of Kenya. It was such a great contrast seeing small starving children taking care of babies as they made their voyage to the refugee camp vs the refugee camp today and seeing the surviving 12,000 lost boys grown up now on the refugee camp on their way to NY or Philadelphia. This contrast created interpretation but one that really resonated with me was when the Sudan men were in the super market trying to make sense, of the already prepared food, and balloons and sprinkled donuts. It was such a contrast with the Americans in the grocery store staring at them not understanding why the Sudanese were so perplexed at the objects in the store. The editor created intensity by contrasting what Christmas is like in Kenya vs the US. Showing the men asking if Santa was in the bible and what the meaning of the Christmas tree was. Having the John talk about giving money back to his mother and sister and the camp. The most intense moment is when John’s mother and sister are reunited with him in America after 17 years. His mothers chanting of happiness is followed by footage of celebration chanting in Kenya. The personal stories of the Lost boys before Kenya and adjusting to the lavish life of the US.
In the documentary, "God Grew Tired of Us" the filmmakers explore different stories and issues around three "Lost Boys of Sudan:" Bul Dau, Daniel Pach, and Panther Bior in their journey out of Sudan and to America. The editor did a phenomenal job at seamlessly combining the narratives of these three individuals by focusing juxtaposed scenes on one topic or theme to help the viewer understand the meaning of the narrative. For example, when the three main characters were just starting working the editor spliced together scenes of each of their respective jobs and short interviews with them to show how they were all on the same page of working to give financial assistance to their family back in Africa. In another instance, Panther and Daniel are walking around an ice-skating rink in Pittsburg with a big Christmas tree and lights in the background, and the next shot is in rural Sudan of the Lost Boys celebrating Christmas with dancing and singing in a big open patch of land. This juxtaposition of scenes helps connect the characters with back home while maintaining the flow and pacing of the film so it is understandable to the viewer.
A film like God Grew Tired Of Us is a type of film I really enjoy watching. Its a film that integrated three separate stories, yet ties them all together in a certain way. This film explores the lives and issues that surround the "Lost Boys of Sudan". The filmmaker does a great job of not confusing there audience as was able to tell a really important story, yet allows for each boy and their story to really come to light. It was interesting to see the filmmakers ask the boys about the differences between the culture of the Untied States and Sudan, like about Christmas and Santa. It really put things into perspective. The goal for these boys is to go to the United States not only make a better life for themselves, but to help out their families back home.
In "God Grew Tired of Us", the filmmakers successfully tie together the stories of several lost boys who travel together to America, either to Syracuse or Pittsburgh. It helps that all the stories started together at the same place in Ethiopia, so the character's common circumstances were easily conveyed and a common starting point and objective. They then split into two groups in two cities in america, so the stories still stay tied together through their common experiences as an African moved to America and they still interact with the group they are in. Later on, they begin to branch out into their own separate lives, so the edit is able to successfully start from a common point and then slowly begin to branch out and differentiate the characters, enabling the story to flow well together, slowly revealing the reality of their situations in America, each slightly different. While each character has their own specific story of what they went through, combined together a bigger pictures is formed through the commonalities of the separate stories, all of which relate back to their common starting point as refugees.
The documentary "God Grew Tired of Us" tells the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan and focuses on three of refugees who come to the United States. The three refugees, John, Daniel, and Panther are brought from a refugee camp to cities in like Pittsburgh and Syracuse. Because the film follows these three characters, the editor manages to weave together an overarching story of survival and adjustment by cutting between the three characters as they start a new life in the U.S. It's also interesting to see how the editor juxtaposes a refugee's story of burying his family member at a young age with an image of him doing something normal in the U.S., like simply riding the bus. It's powerful because it shows that each character is living with the weight of horrific experiences and they are thrown into a world where none of that is occurring and no one can relate to it. We get three different perspectives and the film does well in profiling each character. I like how the film followed each character's journey but also tied all three stories together. I like For example, there is a scene in which they are looking up at the fireworks on Fourth of July. The editor juxtaposes the image of the fireworks with one of the refugees talking about how planes used to drop bombs and kill a lot of people during the war in Sudan. It sends the message that while some people see explosions in the sky as a tradition of celebration, others get a horrific reminder of the destruction they escaped in the past. This all then tries to contrast how incredibly different both societies are and how difficult it is for each of the refugees to adjust.
"God Grew Tired of Us," the documentary directed by Christopher Quinn and narrated by Nicole Kidman, details the stories of three of the "lost boys of Sudan." It explains their grueling and horrific 5 year journey escaping the war in Sudan and making it to a safer Kakuma, Kenya. The narrative then focuses on Daniel, Panther, and John and their big move from Africa to America, Syracuse and Pittsburg in particular. The film then goes back and forth between the three men and their struggles adjusting to a radically different culture, working at new and multiple jobs, trying to go to school, and all while missing family back home. Each story is separate in that they have their own personal struggles, but they relate back to the larger theme of loneliness and culture shock felt while living in the US over a four year period, even if the men still do their best to remain positive. They all stand on their own, but still are so similar because they came from the same place and experienced the same things that made them who they are today.
11 comments:
The editor begins the narrative of God Grew Tired of Us by using multiple individuals to explain the story of Sudan and what the situation is like. The narrative then focuses on two groups of individuals, one in Pittsburg and one in Syracuse. The editor combines their experiences through time to tell a story and selectively reveals shots of Sudan when it fits the VO. Each story on its own is very powerful and shows the experiences of these boys in Sudan as well as their adaptation to a new way of life and how their perception of the US changes after living here for a while. Combined, the two groups provide a more powerful story and show that it is not a solitary experience. The narrative complement each other and paint a very power story.
The editor brilliantly pieces personal stories together to tell one powerful narrative about the "lost boys" living in two different worlds. We began by discovering the atmosphere in Sudan-- we learned about the war, the hunger, and the death. We got a sense of where these men came from and what they have seen. The editor focused on three men-- John, Panther, and Daniel-- and followed them on their journey to America. It captured their many struggles and discoveries while living in Pittsburg. Each storyline could easily stand on its own; each man had their own backgrounds and families, different jobs and experiences in America, and goals that they wanted to reach while in the new country. Together, we got a true sense of the film's story. For example, the men talked about how they missed their families and became lonely. Each man worked hard for their families back in Africa and longed for the bonds they once had to their communities. Though the audience could understand this by just one man's story, together, they create something much more influential.
The film "God Grew Tired Of Us" follows the story of some of the Lost Boys of Sudan as they are moved to the United States and have to adjust to life in America. It is a very powerful film that captures the human spirit and the challenges that can come when leaving everything you know for a new life. The editor does an amazing job in this film by taking the stories of four individual men from Sudan and interweaving their separate stories into one narrative. By combining the individual stories when dealing with similar issues, like finding a job in America, adjusting to the little things in like that we take for granted in America like a functional bathroom, refrigerator, even television, or trying to make ends meet, the narrative is created. All of the Sudan men had to find jobs upon arriving in America, so the editor goes through each man's job hunt process. The editor shows them all having to wake up early and working multiple jobs and showing the stress and exhaustion that can come with it. When multiple men are contacting their family from Sudan, the editor combines these story lines to create a very emotional part of the film. It is techniques like this that make this film so powerful for the audience. Each story stands on it's own because it is unique from the others in it's own way. The film wouldn't be the same without John Dau and his dedication to helping his family back home, while becoming an activist here in the states. His reunion with his mother was the best part of the film. Akim, Daniel and Panther all had separate stories that added to the narrative as a whole. The film wouldn't have been the same without them.
In the film "God Grew Tired of Us", the editor combines 3 similiar, yet different stories together. The film starts by showing Sudan and the struggle the country faced. We learned of the separation between Northern and Southern Sudan and the issues that arose. The men headed towards Ethiopia, and shortly after to Kenya. In Kenya, we learn of 3 individuals who are getting to be relocated to America. Once in America, the editor focuses on their indivudal stories. 2 of the "lost boys" live in Pennsylvania and 1 in New York. We learned about each one and heard from them throughout their journey living in America. Each story stands on its own by showing each ones' story as if it were the only one. We learn each of their feelings, learnings, worries, and excitements living in America. The film will usually stick to one topic, like education, and then go through all 3 of their stories independently. The editor switches between each story constantly, blending them all together into one big storyline. This helps the film run seemlessly, as if it wasn't made up of 3 independent stories.
In the film, the multiple narratives combined are needed to provide the full picture of the struggles the Lost Boys went through. Each separarte profile of one of the Boys provides a new piece of information for the whole. It is also interesting to see the differences in each's experiences. While the boys all want to come to the U.S. to find a better life for themeleves and to ultimately help their families, they all go about it in different ways. Unlike other documentaries that I have seen, 'God Grew Tired Of Us' ties the multiple story lines together seemlessly. The viewer is not likely to get confused as the editor cut between the boys and the cities at subjects that coencieded accross the story lines.
In “God Grew Tired of Us” we see the story of “The lost boys” and the war in Sudan. One example of how the editor clarified the footage by setting up a narration while having a graphic of a map of Sudan. The narration switches from one of the lost boys, now grown up, to a female voice. The female voice gives the historical facts of the war in Sudan and the male voices are the personal experience of the lost boys. There was b-roll of Kakuma as John and Daniel talked about them having to escape overnight; parting ways with their parents. 27,000 5-10 year olds walking 1,000 miles from Sudan to the border of Kenya. It was such a great contrast seeing small starving children taking care of babies as they made their voyage to the refugee camp vs the refugee camp today and seeing the surviving 12,000 lost boys grown up now on the refugee camp on their way to NY or Philadelphia. This contrast created interpretation but one that really resonated with me was when the Sudan men were in the super market trying to make sense, of the already prepared food, and balloons and sprinkled donuts. It was such a contrast with the Americans in the grocery store staring at them not understanding why the Sudanese were so perplexed at the objects in the store. The editor created intensity by contrasting what Christmas is like in Kenya vs the US. Showing the men asking if Santa was in the bible and what the meaning of the Christmas tree was. Having the John talk about giving money back to his mother and sister and the camp. The most intense moment is when John’s mother and sister are reunited with him in America after 17 years. His mothers chanting of happiness is followed by footage of celebration chanting in Kenya. The personal stories of the Lost boys before Kenya and adjusting to the lavish life of the US.
In the documentary, "God Grew Tired of Us" the filmmakers explore different stories and issues around three "Lost Boys of Sudan:" Bul Dau, Daniel Pach, and Panther Bior in their journey out of Sudan and to America. The editor did a phenomenal job at seamlessly combining the narratives of these three individuals by focusing juxtaposed scenes on one topic or theme to help the viewer understand the meaning of the narrative. For example, when the three main characters were just starting working the editor spliced together scenes of each of their respective jobs and short interviews with them to show how they were all on the same page of working to give financial assistance to their family back in Africa. In another instance, Panther and Daniel are walking around an ice-skating rink in Pittsburg with a big Christmas tree and lights in the background, and the next shot is in rural Sudan of the Lost Boys celebrating Christmas with dancing and singing in a big open patch of land. This juxtaposition of scenes helps connect the characters with back home while maintaining the flow and pacing of the film so it is understandable to the viewer.
A film like God Grew Tired Of Us is a type of film I really enjoy watching. Its a film that integrated three separate stories, yet ties them all together in a certain way. This film explores the lives and issues that surround the "Lost Boys of Sudan". The filmmaker does a great job of not confusing there audience as was able to tell a really important story, yet allows for each boy and their story to really come to light. It was interesting to see the filmmakers ask the boys about the differences between the culture of the Untied States and Sudan, like about Christmas and Santa. It really put things into perspective. The goal for these boys is to go to the United States not only make a better life for themselves, but to help out their families back home.
In "God Grew Tired of Us", the filmmakers successfully tie together the stories of several lost boys who travel together to America, either to Syracuse or Pittsburgh. It helps that all the stories started together at the same place in Ethiopia, so the character's common circumstances were easily conveyed and a common starting point and objective. They then split into two groups in two cities in america, so the stories still stay tied together through their common experiences as an African moved to America and they still interact with the group they are in. Later on, they begin to branch out into their own separate lives, so the edit is able to successfully start from a common point and then slowly begin to branch out and differentiate the characters, enabling the story to flow well together, slowly revealing the reality of their situations in America, each slightly different. While each character has their own specific story of what they went through, combined together a bigger pictures is formed through the commonalities of the separate stories, all of which relate back to their common starting point as refugees.
The documentary "God Grew Tired of Us" tells the story of the Lost Boys of Sudan and focuses on three of refugees who come to the United States. The three refugees, John, Daniel, and Panther are brought from a refugee camp to cities in like Pittsburgh and Syracuse. Because the film follows these three characters, the editor manages to weave together an overarching story of survival and adjustment by cutting between the three characters as they start a new life in the U.S. It's also interesting to see how the editor juxtaposes a refugee's story of burying his family member at a young age with an image of him doing something normal in the U.S., like simply riding the bus. It's powerful because it shows that each character is living with the weight of horrific experiences and they are thrown into a world where none of that is occurring and no one can relate to it. We get three different perspectives and the film does well in profiling each character. I like how the film followed each character's journey but also tied all three stories together. I like For example, there is a scene in which they are looking up at the fireworks on Fourth of July. The editor juxtaposes the image of the fireworks with one of the refugees talking about how planes used to drop bombs and kill a lot of people during the war in Sudan. It sends the message that while some people see explosions in the sky as a tradition of celebration, others get a horrific reminder of the destruction they escaped in the past. This all then tries to contrast how incredibly different both societies are and how difficult it is for each of the refugees to adjust.
"God Grew Tired of Us," the documentary directed by Christopher Quinn and narrated by Nicole Kidman, details the stories of three of the "lost boys of Sudan." It explains their grueling and horrific 5 year journey escaping the war in Sudan and making it to a safer Kakuma, Kenya. The narrative then focuses on Daniel, Panther, and John and their big move from Africa to America, Syracuse and Pittsburg in particular. The film then goes back and forth between the three men and their struggles adjusting to a radically different culture, working at new and multiple jobs, trying to go to school, and all while missing family back home. Each story is separate in that they have their own personal struggles, but they relate back to the larger theme of loneliness and culture shock felt while living in the US over a four year period, even if the men still do their best to remain positive. They all stand on their own, but still are so similar because they came from the same place and experienced the same things that made them who they are today.
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