theThe Cannes Film festival,from 16 to 27 May,highlighted a Sudanese film for the first time. Hi Giulia he thus obtained the Freedom Award from the Un certain Regard selection. This fiction takes place during the six years that passed between the peace agreement signed in 2005 to end the war between North and south Sudan and the referendum that paved the way for South Sudan’s independence in 2011.
Mona, a former North Sudanese singer, seeks redemption for accidentally causing the death of a South Sudanese man. He then hires his wife, Julia, as a maid and pays his son’s school fees.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PjZYzop7ak
behind this scenario lie the profound questions initiated by Mohamed Kordofani in the aftermath of the south Sudanese vote. This former aeronautical engineer is making his first feature film. He received this award as his country was plunged into a war of unprecedented proportions on April 15. The clashes, concentrated in Khartoum and Darfur, have caused hundreds of deaths.
Africa Point: What does this Freedom Award mean to you?
Mohamed Kordofani: In this time of war,when militias take control of our homes,our neighborhoods and our cities,freedom is essential. So this award means something. We must remain free. Before presenting this award, the president of the Un certain Regard section, John C.reilly, equated it with the right to be free, to express oneself, to live in a world without racism and to share one’s opinions. It is recognition of the hard work put in by the entire team that made this film possible. From a personal viewpoint this distinction means I wasn’t completely crazy about retraining!
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Isn’t it paradoxical to win this award while the current conflict further distances Sudanese from the freedom they hoped to gain by ousting dictator Omar al-Bashir four years ago?
War actually distances the population from the prospect of freedom and a better future for their country. However, I consider this conflict as one side of the revolution. Forces have always opposed this revolution, but the movement is not dead. If we had only replaced the head of state, our revolution would not have truly succeeded. Creating real change requires a lot of time and overcoming many obstacles. This journey allows society to evolve. We must overcome the war with kindness and solidarity. For now we are helpless due to our fears for our own safety, the safety of our loved ones, and the loss of our home. But the time will come when citizens will demonstrate again and be able to achieve what they have been mobilizing for as December 2018.
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In what conditions did you shoot hi Giulia ?
We started filming in November 2022, a year after the coup on october 25, 2021. There were two or three weekly pro-democracy demonstrations. Law enforcement regularly blocked bridges connecting Khartoum to the nearby cities of Omdurman and Bahri. We shot several scenes in the Jerif neighborhood,in the eastern part of Khartoum,which is located right behind the Riyadh police station,where tear gas is usually fired to quell demonstrations on 60th Street,the main artery that runs through this part of the capital .
One day we filmed a demonstration and burned a car for the purpose of the film, while 200 meters away a real demonstration was taking place… I don’t know if the police could have made a difference! The police, however, were very cooperative, once they read and understood the synopsis. I thank them for this. Making a film in a country without
It’s a crucial point in Sudan’s history that will go down in the books. I was 22 in 2011. I was old enough to understand what was happening. I felt the need to document this period not from a political perspective, but based on what we observed from home. We must reconcile as Sudanese peopel between different tribes,different segments of the community… we have missed an opportunity for reconciliation during these six years of transition between the 2005 peace agreement and the 2011 referendum. We must recognize and confess our failures which have prevented coexistence within a country to allow it to move forward. The separation of South Sudan was a mistake from which we should have learned.But this problem persists.
The film explores the racism expressed by most members of the northern communities towards South Sudan. The sharing of wealth, foreseen in the 2005 agreement, was not enough. There has been too much agony and suffering in the past. It has been very difficult for South Sudanese to overcome them given the lack of attempts to achieve this social reconciliation.
I cannot imagine a united Sudan today. We must focus above all on the risks of further separations in the Darfur, Nuba Mountains, Blue Nile or Eastern regions. North Sudan is full of divisions, most of them sadly ethnic. The roots of all these difficulties stem from the lack of social justice at all levels. if all Sudanese united and agreed to live together without distinguishing between first, second or third class citizens, no force on earth could divide them and control the nation. Not even soldiers or militiamen.
Everything is connected.You cannot talk about equality and fairness regarding race and ethnicity without mentioning gender equality and the patriarchal system. We must turn the page on these divisions and seek to build a national identity that is proud of the elements that unite its citizens.We must embody the values of freedom, peace, justice and coexistence required by the revolution. In fact, the film addresses separation on a macro level, not only between Sudan and South Sudan, but between husband and wife, between father and son, between friends, between lovers…
I was inspired by my quest for change. In 2011, when 99% of South Sudanese voted for independence, I realized that this was not a political problem. But a social disaster. I realized that I didn’t know a single South Sudanese in Khartoum. Yet there were thousands.I have always behaved with respect towards them but at the same time I have unconsciously downgraded them. Just like Mona thinks she is acting benevolently without realizing the superior relationship she has with Julia.It took me a while to understand all this. The revolution takes time because it requires change at an individual level. I also continue to constantly check myself to make sure I am not acting in a racist or patriarchal way.
In particular,I wanted to try to bring together people who share my observation on reconciliation. The goal was to generate movement. First of all at a national level between residents of different regions in order to create a national identity based on values that represent us. I would have liked to film, in more cities, the discussions that would have emerged. But I’m not optimistic about the war.
READ ALSO South Sudan: Akuol de Mabior, revolution through cinema
To discover
* Hi Giuliaby Mohamed Kordofani, Sudan, 2 hours.
How does the film *Hi Giulia* address the themes of reconciliation adn community in the context of Sudan’s challenges?
Interview between Time.news Editor and Mohamed Kordofani
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, Mohamed. Congratulations on winning the Freedom Award at the Cannes Film Festival for your film Hi Giulia.this is a historic moment, as it’s the first time a Sudanese film has been highlighted there. How do you feel about this recognition, especially considering the current challenges facing Sudan?
Mohamed Kordofani: Thank you! Receiving this award during such a tumultuous time in Sudan is both a profound honor and a great reminder of the importance of freedom. As John C. Reilly mentioned, it’s about the right to express oneself and to live in a world free of racism. This award acknowledges the hard work of the entire team behind Hi Giulia—and yes, on a personal level, it reassures me that my decision to shift from aeronautics to filmmaking wasn’t in vain!
Editor: it’s certainly a moment of pride, but do you find it paradoxical to win such an award while the people of sudan are facing escalated conflict and the loss of the freedoms they sought four years ago when they ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir?
Kordofani: It is indeed paradoxical. War frequently enough distances people from the dream of freedom, but I see this conflict as merely one chapter in a larger revolution. our struggle for true change is ongoing. It requires deep work and time to dismantle the systemic issues that persist. I believe that the spirit of the revolution is not dead; we just need to navigate these arduous waters with kindness and solidarity. There will come a time when citizens will mobilize again as they did in December 2018.
Editor: That’s an inspiring perspective. Let’s look at the making of Hi Giulia. You started filming after the coup in October 2021. Can you tell us what the filming conditions were like?
Kordofani: Filming was challenging yet rewarding. We began in November 2022 amidst regular pro-democracy protests. The atmosphere in Khartoum was charged, with law enforcement frequently enough blocking access to areas where we were shooting. It was surreal—while filming a scene involving a demonstration, a real protest was happening just a few hundred meters away. The police were surprisingly cooperative once they understood our film’s message, which I truly appreciate.
Editor: That sounds like a tense yet historically significant environment to work in. Given the context, what themes are you hoping to convey through Hi Giulia?
Kordofani: The film explores themes of redemption, loss, and the complex dynamics of community and identity. It centers on Mona, a former North Sudanese singer who seeks forgiveness for a tragic incident that links her to a South Sudanese man. This narrative reflects our need to reconcile different segments of our society, especially after the missed opportunities for reconciliation in the years following the peace agreement of 2005. It’s a personal and collective story that invites audiences to reflect on our shared failures and the importance of coexistence.
Editor: It’s a powerful story that resonates far beyond Sudan’s borders. What message would you like viewers to take away from Hi Giulia, especially in the context of current events?
Kordofani: Above all, I hope audiences grasp the importance of empathy and the necessity of dialog among different communities. The road to true freedom and reconciliation is filled with obstacles, but it’s essential to strive for understanding and acceptance. We must recognize our shared humanity and work towards a future where everyone can contribute to building a better society.
Editor: Thank you, Mohamed. Your insights are incredibly valuable, and we look forward to seeing how Hi Giulia inspires audiences both in Sudan and around the world.
Kordofani: Thank you for having me. It’s vital that we continue to share stories that reflect our realities and aspirations.