Book & Movie Reviews
Book Reviews
Book: The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
Published by Random House of Canada
Reviewed by Linda Moorcroft, Christie Refugee Welcome Centre, Toronto CANADA
The Siege of Sarajevo, the longest in modern warfare, stretched from April 1992 to February 1996. The United Nations estimates that approximately ten thousand people were killed and fifty-six thousand wounded.
The Cellist of Sarajevo walks with three characters through their daily life in a “sieged” Sarajevo. The author captures the essence of daily human struggles in the midst of an inhumane existence.
Daily chores such as shopping for food or collecting water become dangerous undertakings as the characters dodge sniper fire, missiles and menacing mind games of warfare.
This book will introduce you to the suffering, strength and souls of the people of Sarajevo.
Movie Reviews
Movie: God Grew Tired of Us
Produced by: Newmarket Films
Review submitted by Tom Albinson, IAFR
Winner of both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival, GOD GREW TIRED OF US explores the indomitable spirit of three “Lost Boys” from the Sudan who leave their homeland, triumph over seemingly insurmountable adversities and move to America, where they build active and fulfilling new lives but remain deeply committed to helping the friends and family they have left behind.
Orphaned by a tumultuous civil war and traveling barefoot across the sub-Saharan desert, John Bul Dau, Daniel Abol Pach and Panther Blor were among the 25,000 “Lost Boys” (ages 3 to 13) who fled villages, formed surrogate families and sought refuge from famine, disease, wild animals and attacks from rebel soldiers. Named by a journalist after Peter Pan’s posse of orphans who protected and provided for each other, the “Lost Boys” traveled together for five years and against all odds crossed into the UN’s refugee camp in Kakuma, Kenya. A journey’s end for some, it was only the beginning for John, Daniel and Panther, who along with 3800 other young survivors, were selected to re-settle in the United States.
See www.godgrewtiredofus.com for more.