North American Premiere
War Child
Discovery
| USA | 93 MINUTES | English, Nuer, DinkaDocumentary, Music
"Left home at the age of seven/One year later I leave with an AK-47." For hip-hop artist Emmanuel Jal, a veteran of the 20-year civil war in southern Sudan, these lyrics are hardly empty posturing. One of the tens of thousands of "lost boys" of the Sudan, Jal left his devastated home in 1987. At a United Nations camp for Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia, he became the children's spokesperson and soon joined the Sudanese People's Liberation Army, training to fight the Arab-dominated north right under the UN's watch. After almost five years, he and his friends deserted, embarking on a harrowing journey that few survived. Now in his 20s, Jal is using his music to raise awareness about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sudan and the plight of child soldiers throughout the world. First-time filmmaker C. Karim Chrobog follows Jal as he performs at a fundraiser and meets with students in Washington, DC then returns to Sudan for the first time in 18 years to reunite with his family, including the father who summoned him to war and then abandoned him. On the way he visits a battlefield that brings back painful memories, a UN camp in Kenya for Sudanese orphans, and the Nairobi prep school where he wound up after a chain of events so remarkable they'll soon be retold in a movie directed by Tony Scott. "I believe I survived for a reason," raps Jal in his hit "War Child," and that reason is evident in every frame of Chrobog's moving portrait.
Cast & Credits
Directed by
C. Karim Chrobog
C. Karim Chrobog is a first-time director/producer. He started his career in the media industry working at TimeWarner's international public policy office. In 2005, Karim launched Tangier Pictures, an independent feature film company. Tangier Pictures is producing a feature film on Ibn Battutah, a colorful but forgotten 14th-century Moroccan adventurer. He is also working on a documentary, Kidnapped, which tells the story of his family's kidnapping during a vacation gone awry in the South of Yemen three years ago. Karim holds a degree in international politics and a certificate in international business diplomacy from Georgetown University. He speaks German, Arabic, and English. Karim resides in Washington, DC.
Producers
C. Karim Chrobog, Afshin Molavi
Executive Producers
Dal LaMagna, Rick Boden, Roshanak Ameli-Tehrani
Associate Producer
Ulf Gartzke
Principal Cast
Emmanuel Jal
* Rush Tickets available at venue except for
Beacon Theatre
Beacon Theatre
Rush will be offered when advanced tickets for a screening or event are no longer available at venues
other than Beacon Theatre.
The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form at the venue approximately one hour prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin roughly 10 minutes prior to program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.
The Rush system functions as a standby line that will form at the venue approximately one hour prior to scheduled start time. Admittance is based on availability and will begin roughly 10 minutes prior to program start time. Rush Tickets are the same price as advance tickets and are payable upon entry.
