GOODBYE JULIA

Sudan, 2023, 120 minutes, Colour.

Eiman Yousif, Siran Riak, Nazar Goma, Ger Duany.

Directed by Mohammed Kordofani.

A rare film from Sudan. Which makes audiences realis she film e they need to see more films from Africa, of life in Africa, social issues, racial issues, religious issues. And Goodbye Julia takes us into the heart of Khartoum, 2005 and the possibilities for peace between the North and the South, then to 2011 with the vote for establishing the new country of South Sudan.

The film was written and directed by Mohammed Kordofani, from the North, drawing  on his own memories, acknowledging the prejudices of the North, Arabic, against the South, African tribes.

But, while there is strong political background, this is a story of relationships, friendships, but, sadly, built on fear and deceptions.

While the title focuses on Julia (Siran Riak, a former Miss South Sudan, model, her first acting role, absolutely convincing), there is also an equal focus on Mona (Eiman Yousif, a singer in her first acting performance, also absolutely convincing). The film introduces Mona, wealthy Arab her patriarchal husband, tensions in the marriage, very comfortable living. And then suggestions of protests and violence against the Arabs by the Southerners.

It is then we meet Julia, a southerner born in Khartoum, husband, ther son, Daniel, evicted from lodgings, finding tent shelter with family, and, then, tragedy.

Perhaps this is enough indication of aspects of the plot, best for audiences to enter, emotionally, initially disturbed, into the way that the lives of Mona and Julia come together. One can say there is unforeseen tragedy, emotional pressures on people who have made mistakes, conceal the truth, fear, certainly not looking very far ahead to anticipate the consequences of lying.

Mona employs Julia as a maid, inviting her and her son to stay in the house, a beautifully deepening friendship between the two women and the boy fascinated by Mona’s husband and his woodwork, the boy showing great talent in this field.

Once the situation is established, the time frame moves from 2005 to 2011, the particular focus on the vote for the establishing of South Sudan. The years have passed, the women are friends, the boy is at school, a campaigner for the referendum becomes friendly with Julia and her son. And the vote. Then, as the audience has been waiting, consequences, the truth of the situations is revealed.

While the issue of race is strongly dramatised, the sense of superiority of the Arabs and their dismissing of the Southerners as slaves, there is also the dramatisation of the Catholicism of the Southerners (statistics indicate that 52% of citizens of Sudan are Catholics, with quite a number of Anglicans and Protestants). There are some sympathetic sequences in a Catholic Church, the choir, indicating possibilities of shared understandings.

In many ways, this is a valuable film in its portrayal of humanity, friendships, betrayals, hopes and reconciliation. And valuable for taking its audience into Sudan.

1. Rare film from Sudan? History? Racial tensions? Arabs and Southerners? Separation of South Sudan? The narrative in the 2000s?
2. Filming in Khartoum, the vistas of the city, the different neighbourhoods? The affluent couple and their home, the streets, the temporary accommodation, tent cities? Schools, churches, clubs? The musical score?
3. The introduction, Mona and Akram, the marriage, age, tensions, the breakfast, his patriarchal attitudes, Mona as long-suffering, the revelation about their marriage, Mona’s background as a singer, the band, the relationship with Tariq, giving up the singing, the issue of the divorce? Her inability to have children? Keeping this from her husband? The visits to the doctor? Establishing an atmosphere?
4. The rioters, demonstrations, the burning of the car, tensions between North and South?
5. The contrast with Julia and her husband, Daniel? Julia born in the north, family from the South? Her husband and his photography? Their being evicted because of the troubles? Taking refuge with the sister, the tent set up? Julia, her grinding the flour? Selling at the market?
6. Mona, going to the club in the burqa, driving the car, not paying attention, hitting Daniel, the father pursuing her, stopping, locking the door, phone, driving away? His pursuing her on the bike, the confrontation at the house, the Akram and the gun, shooting him? The police, the cover up, documentation, rid of the body?
7. Julia, Daniel and his being hurt, getting up? Husband not returning, the search, the police, the funerals of the group killed, Julia wanting to find the body? Time passing?
8. Mona, not telling the truth, the consequences? Akram consoling her, his explanations? Effect on her at home, with the doctor? The visit to the market, talking with Julia, buying the goods? Julia and the extra gift? Mona and the decision about the maid, approaching Julia, her work, marking the cups and plates with red for Julia’s use, the tasks around the house?
9. The police and the tent city, burning it down, Julia getting her possessions, talking with Mona, Mona offering them accommodation, the work?
10. The Catholic background, Julia ss Catholic, the Southerners, the priests and their support, going to the church, the ceremonies? The school for Daniel, Mona paying the fees, for the uniform, Daniel going to school, Mona and Julia bonding?
11. Mona, her dealing with the police, deceiving Akram, the police contact, the information, the wallet and her hiding it, the information? His later presumption, fending him off, bribe?
12. The years passing, the situation of 2011, the vote for the separation between North and South? The political background? Julia from the North, not wanting to leave? The encounter with Majier, his background, political stances, military? The later meetings with Julia, the attraction, with Daniel, at the social function, standing in the water, his approach, Julia walking away? The campaigning for the vote, the media, public opinion, protests?
13. The years passing, the bond between Julia and Mona, deep, yet based on deception? Daniel, growing up, at school, the bullying, the visit with the authorities? Daniel and his bonding with Akram, doing the woodwork with him? Calling him uncle?
14. Mona visiting the Church with Julia and joining the choir?
15. The vote, people lining up, Julia and her vote?
16. The gradual revelation of the truth, the neighbour and his moving, the bike exposed, Daniel seeing it, the discussions with Mona, continuing her deception, disappearance of Daniel’s father? Majier and his men, the involvement, the confrontation, Akram with the gun? The truth about the bike?
17. Mona, the confession to Julia, Julia revealing that she suspected something because of the overpayment, finding the wallet, Julia’s concern?
18. Julia leaving, the help of the photographer?
19. Julia and Daniel, leaving for the South?
20. Akram and Mona, the frank talk, his patriarchal attitudes towards her singing, jealousy of Tariq? His decision, Mona leaving, her singing and career?
21. Insight into the situation in Sudan by characters and interactions, Arabs versus Africans from the south, prejudices, Islam and Catholicism, the setting up of the new country and celebration?
22. A plea for understanding, respect, reconciliation, forgiveness, peace?