There is a key moment that stands out in Hind Meddeb’s Sudan, Remember Us. We see a yellow sign in the road that says: “Sorry for the delay uprooting a regime.” This memorable scene exemplifies the optimism and persistence of the Sudanese youth. Meddeb’s documentary covers young Sudanese revolutionaries as they rebel against their militaristic Islamic government. For additional context, Sudan is a valuable country in the Middle East because of their agricultural environment and minerals. Their mission is to have a citizens’ government, where it is run as a democracy, devoid of tribalism and racism. They believe in religious pluralism, equivalent to America’s melting pot.
The protests began in the spring of 2019 when the revolutionaries had sit-ins during the festivities of Ramadan. They protest peacefully with music and art. Shajane Suliman, one of the revolutionaries, believes in the power of poetry, as it has been a consistent voice of resistance throughout Sudan’s history. On the final peaceful night, the military attacks them. We jump forward to 2021 and 2023; the revolutionaries continue their fight as military coups and high surveillance create danger. Women grow closer and work together to amplify their voices. Former political prisoners stay optimistic as they all feel united through a song called “Land of Light.” Even with the chaos caused by the retaliatory government, the revolutionaries remember the fallen by painting murals and paying tribute through marches.
“…we see Christians and Muslims coming together on a common goal: patriotism.”
Sudan, Remember Us is delicately made as Meddeb focuses on the plight of the Sudanese. She makes a strong creative choice to keep the government obscured, and the military attacks are briefly seen through shaky, pixelated iPhone footage. This simple creative choice says more than visceral violence. On a filmmaking level, Meddeb provides a first-person perspective through shots of quiet streets, genuine conversations in cafés, and the revolutionaries at home explaining their values. There is also a heavy contrast between the Third World harshness of Khartoum (a city in Sudan where the documentary takes place) and the hopefulness of the revolutionaries.
From an American perspective, the documentary brings up interesting questions about the nature of protest. Should it be done peacefully through the arts? How do we fight when the government uses fear and surveillance to weaken those who oppose them? With that in mind, her film is a great conversation starter to discuss politics on a deeper level. Parts of this documentary serve as a reminder for Western civilization not to let its government downplay its individual rights by forcing a singular religion. Throughout the film, we see Christians and Muslims coming together on a common goal: patriotism. One could interpret this as a way of looking beyond identity politics.
Sudan, Remember Us tackles a political conflict that is underreported in the mainstream news cycle and treats it with dignity. Meddeb’s film is a valuable viewing experience as it teaches us to value our freedoms and individual voices.
For screening information, visit the Sudan, Remember Us official website.
"…a valuable viewing experience..."
