CHICAGO–“The Good Lie,” a drama based on actual events stars Reese Witherspon and Sudanese actors Arnold Oceng, Ger Duany, Emmanuel Jal, and newcomer Kuoth Wiel. Two of the actors came to Chicago to help promote it.
The film, which hit theaters Oct. 17, tells the story of Sudanese orphans who bond together after their village is destroyed in the Sudan civil war of 1983. “The Good Lie” was converted from a screenplay by Margaret Nagle. It was produced by Academy Award winners Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (“A Beautiful Mind”), Karen Kehela Sherwood (“Frost/Nixon”), Molly Smith (“The Blind Side”), Thad Luckinbill, and Trent Luckinbill.
The war left thousands of youth parentless. Many traveled by foot for thousands of miles looking for safety. In the film, the audience is able to go along on the journey with the child actors as they flee to Kenya. It’s there that they find refuge.
Thanks to a humanitarian effort, 3,600 displaced youth were able to come to the United States. In the film, which fast-forwards by 15 years, the young adults are placed on the list to leave the refugee camp. Some of them arrive in Kansas City, MO, where Witherspoon’s character, Carrie Davis, helps them find jobs and adapt to the foreign culture. They learn tasks that most of us take for granted, like how to answer a telephone. There was nothing predictable about the film. Even though it is based on a traumatic event that really did happen, there are many humorous and light moments throughout. It was far from predictable. Viewers will cry with the characters, laugh with them and hold their breath through the suspenseful scenes that are sprinkled throughout the film.
Working in this movie was more personal for Duany and Jal who had actually been child soldiers. Duany said it was difficult at times for him because he did feel too close to his role. He plays Jeremiah who is the spiritual leader in the group. Tapping into that part of his character was easy though.
“My people are spiritual so I just had to go back to my culture,” Duany said.
Even though the characters are fictional, the film is based on an actual event. There are still hundreds of Sudanese refugees living in Chicago. Between 350 to 450 Southern Sudanese immigrants began arriving to the city during the mid-1980s after the civil war began. They are commonly known as the “Lost Boys.”
“I hope this film creates a global conscious awareness,” Jal said.
Smith said she believes the film will “inspire people and be a call to action.”
About Post Author
