Hutton Honors College

In anticipation, recognition, and celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Lost Boys of Sudan: Evening with Sundance Award-winning film/director, Christopher Quinn

Date: Monday, January 14, 2008

FILM SCREENING of GOD GREW TIRED OF US,
followed by TALK and Q&A with DIRECTOR Christopher Quinn
5:30-7:30 p.m. * Whittenberger Auditorium (IMU)
Free and open to the public; NO RSVP required.

Join Christopher Quinn, director of the Sundance award-winning film GOD GREW TIRED OF US, for a PUBLIC SCREENING of his story of the Lost Boys of Sudan followed by a TALK and Q&A. Released nationwide in 2007 and narrated by Nicole Kidman, the film won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival. Read more about the film.

UNDERGRADUATE DISCUSSION SUPPER WITH DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER QUINN
8-9:30 p.m.
Harlos House, 1331 E. Tenth Street
RSVP REQUIRED.

Join Christopher Quinn for a discussion that can range as widely as your interests and questions. RSVP: If you wish to attend the discussion supper, send an e-mail message to eatagi (at) indiana.edu with your name, e-mail address, year in school, and major(s). The supper is open to any IU UNDERGRADUATE; however, space is limited, so we will let you know by e-mail if a space was available when you replied. It is recommended but not required that you attend the film screening in order to attend the supper. Read more about Mr. Quinn.

ABOUT THE FILM
In the late 1980s, 27,000 Sudanese "Lost Boys"--some just toddlers--marched barefoot over thousands of miles of barren desert, seeking safe haven from the brutal civil war raging in their homeland. Half died from bombing raids and starvation; the others reside together in Kenya's Kakuna refugee camp, with few prospects. Recently, the U.S. invited some of the boys to settle in America. Moving and mind-expanding, Christopher Quinn's God Grew Tired of Us follows three unforgettable young men--John, Daniel, and Panther--on their unbelievable odyssey in a strange New World. The culture shock begins with airplane loudspeakers and processed food and continues as they orient themselves to refrigerators, running water, and fluorescent-lit supermarkets. It's fascinating to witness their wonder at Western customs, and even more gripping when the film monitors their spiritual temperatures. Things are tough as the boys juggle multiple menial jobs; for the first time, they find themselves well fed, yet painfully isolated from the brotherly fellowship that once enabled their survival. They face hints of racism and are perplexed by Americans' obsessive need for privacy and anxious about loved ones struggling in Africa. Yet John, Daniel, and Panther--each radiantly charismatic and thoughtful--meet their challenges, fueled by a desire to help others. Though they were bred in unspeakably dehumanizing circumstances, their integrity and honor are impeccable, raising profound questions about the conditions necessary to create a civilized society. [Text provided by Keppler Speakers.]

More on Mr. Quinn
Christopher Quinn's works include the documentary short The Life and Art of Howard Finster; the narrative short Hands of Fate, starring Dermot Mulroney; the feature-length documentary 21 Up in America; and the upcoming feature-length drama Drinking with Lee Marvin. In addition to the Sundance awards, he won the Emerging Documentary Filmmaker Award for God Grew Tired of Us. On television, Quinn has worked with A&E, ABC, the BBC, and the National Geographic and Discovery channels, among others. "Quinn's films are filled with passion for his subjects, and that translates across the screen, creating a moving and educational experience for viewers." [From text provided by Keppler Speakers and from online sources.]

Mr. Quinn's visit to campus has been organized by the campus chapter of STAND (A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition) and is co-sponsored by IUSA (Indiana University Student Association), the Hutton Honors College and the Wells Scholars Program, African Studies Program, International Studies Student Association, International Studies Student Association, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, and Jewish Studies Student Association, among others.

Spring 2008 Programs | Extracurricular Home