Khartoum

Five people flee war, as do the documentary filmmakers who had been filming their lives. The new circumstances force everyone to reflect on the past and the future in new ways.

Sudan endured decades of brutal military dictatorship. This was followed by an optimistic but short-lived civilian government, which in turn was overthrown by another military coup. Eventually, the country descended into civil war, driving more than ten million people into exile.

The protagonists of Khartoum represent many different faces of Sudan’s capital and, with them, a wide range of refugee stories. The documentary follows them in everyday life before the war, during protests against the military coup, and as they build new lives in neighboring countries.

In its experimental and fresh style, the film occasionally moves into a studio setting, where the protagonists reenact key moments of their lives together. Processing painful experiences creates space for grief and comfort.

Memories of the optimism that preceded the war, the ability to dream, and pride in Sudanese identity have not disappeared. The civil war may have caused deep trauma, but it has not erased a persistent belief in a better future yet to come. Portraying exile and memory across multiple temporal and narrative layers, the film has received several accolades, including the Peace Film Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival.