We Come As Friends

Having been intimately involved in its construction, Hubert Sauper’s tiny plane looks like a tin toy in contrast to the UN cargo carriers it sits amongst. South Sudan gained independence when it split from North Sudan in 2011. The Austrian director takes us on a journey around a region in the midst of political change, and introduces us to numerous random locals, international decision-makers and representatives of Chinese oil companies, British UN soldiers and American missionaries. These different parties state various claims in this chaotic country yet all ironically share common ground - all come as friends of Sudan. Subtly yet distinctly, the film reveals that the days of colonialism in Africa are far from over.