Talking About Trees

In 1989, the members of the Sudanese Film Group saw their dream of establishing a Sudanese cinema free from state censorship dashed by the military coup and repressive dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir. Now, reunited after decades of distance and exile, filmmakers Ibrahim Shadad, Manar Al Hilo, Suleiman Mohamed Ibrahim Elnour, and Eltayeb Mahdi seek to bring life back to their old dream, aiming to make cinema a reality in Sudan by reopening an outdoor movie theater in the city of Omdurman. Their uphill battle—as well as their reminiscences and images from the remarkable, daring films they created—reveal the beautiful and brutal faces of their country.