Art by Zee

Nearly 30,000 young men and women, displaced and/or orphaned by civil war in Sudan came to be known as the “Lost Boys of Sudan”, a name given to them by aid workers in recognition of their tragic situation. Fleeing violence in their home villages, they walked hundreds of miles first to refugee camps in Ethiopia and then, after war broke out there, to camps in Kenya. Crossing dangerous territory, including desert lands, they faced hunger, dehydration, illness and attacks by crocodiles, hippos, and enemy gunfire.

The “Lost Boys” made American news headlines in 2001 when the US granted asylum to 3800 “Lost Boys” and 80 “Lost Girls”.

Three of those “Lost Boys” are profiled in Rebuilding Hope, a documentary by local filmmaker Jen Marlowe that is screenign as part of the Seattle True Independent Film Festival (STIFF) at 7:00 pm on June 6 at Northwest Film Forum and at 4:00 pm on June 9 at the Rendezvous Jewel Box Theater. Marlowe will be in attendance for a Q&A session at both screenings.

As young children Gabriel Bol Deng, Koor Garang, and Garang Mayuol each escaped from their home villages and made it to the refugee camp where they formed a strong friendship that endured their eventual separation to three different cities in the US. Torn from their families by war, they became a family of their own, keeping in touch by telephone across the miles as they grew into adulthood. As young adults grateful for their opportunities but ever mindful of the homes and families they left behind, the three reunited for a trip back to Sudan to find out if their families survived, survey the situation in their homeland first-hand and try to help their villages rebuild after the devastation of war.

The film begins with an introduction to each of the young men telling their personal history in a simple, straightforward manner that effectively communicates the horror of war: the matter-of-fact way each of these men talks about about surviving the unimaginable speaks volumes about the tragedy they’ve outlasted. Arriving in Sudan, the trio are overwhelmed by the devastation all around them. While they try to locate their surviving family members, they must also struggle with the intense need of their country men. The aid they’ve brought with them is a genuine relief for those they are able to assist, but the demand for assistance vastly outweighs their ability to provide it. In one particularly heartwrenching segment, a man who can barely walk manages to cross many miles for the hope of getting a mosquito net to help protect his five young children from malaria only to discover that there are no more tents to be had.

Rebuilding Hope is a sobering examination of the difficulties in building a lasting peace in a land torn asunder by violence. It is not enough that there are no more bullets being fired, say the Sudanese – there must also be food and water, education, health care and opportunity. Fully aware of the magnitude of the many complex issues in need of resolution, Deng, Garang, and Mayuol are nevertheless determined to do all that they can do. Rebuilding Hope offers a glimmer of hope for the future by showing the valuable work that each man has done so far: digging a well, building a school and training local Sudanese in providing health care. Each has made a solid start, but there’s still many miles to go for these and all of the Lost Boys, the families, and their homes.

All proceeds from Rebuilding Hope go to support the health care, education and water projects the trio have initiated. Fore

Beyond Ipanema : Brazil’s most successful export just may be its music: samba, bossa nova. tropicalia, and baile funk are heard worldwide both directly through the work of its homegrown artists and indirectly through the countless musicians all around the globe that Brazilian music has influenced. Beyond Ipanema offers a close up look at these heady sounds throughout history and today. June 4, 5:00 pm – Kirkland

Imani : The first film from Uganda to appear at SIFF tells the stories of a child soldier returning home from war, a woman trying to liberate her wrongly-accused sister from jail, and a dance troop leader fighting to get through a hometown performance, all set in a place not often seen on film. June 4, 7:00 pm – Harvard Exit, June 6 4:30 pm – Harvard Exit, June 11 4:30 pm – Harvard Exit

A Tribute to Edward Norton : Friday night at 7, SIFF presents a Golden Space Needle Award for Outstanding Achievement in Acting to Edward Norton at a special tribute that includes a screening of his new film Leaves of Grass. Tickets are on rush only, so if you want to attend, get to the Egyptian early for any day-of-show tickets that may come available. Norton is also scheduled to appear at the midnight screening of Fight Club at the Egyptian, introducing the movie that sealed his status as a film icon. Leaves of Grass screens again on June 6 at 1:30 at the Egyptian; 25th Hour screens at 10:00 pm on June 5 at the Neptune. Norton is scheduled to attend both of those screenings as well.

Ondine : Colin Farrell is an unhappy fisherman who one day nets a nearly-dead woman from the sea. His daughter Annie is convinced that Ondine is a selkie – half-woman, half-fish. Maybe she is, maybe she isn’t, but her presence has a magical effect on the strained relationship between father and daughter. June 4 7:00 pm – Kirkland, June 6 9:00 pm – Uptown

Centurion : A platoon of Roman soldiers in second century Britain battle the harsh Scottish countryside and the fearsome Picts bent on revenge against the invaders in this brutal action packed thriller. June 4 10:00 pm – Neptune

Filmmaker panels: Four free panels for filmmakers provide instruction on essential component of the movie making process. At 10:00 is Music and Sounds: Getting the Best Audio for Your film. Character Arc: Fact and Fiction is at noon. For the Love of Money, a panel on funding your film, takes place at 2:00 and Using Media to Move Your Mission is at 4:00. Panels are free but stop by a box office or phone 206.324.9996 to reserve a ticket. Digital Media Lab at Seattle Center.

White Lion : Letsatsi is a white lion, revered by the Shangaan people, but an outcast within his own pride. Gisani is a young Shangaan who finds his calling by making Letsatsi’s survival his mission. The gorgeous South African scenery and scenes of wild animals are enthralling for the whole family. June 5 11:00 am – Harvard Exit, June 6 7:00 pm – Harvard Exit

Blessed : Four working class mothers in Melbourne, Australia, and their children appear in a series of interconnected stories told first from the viewpoint of the children and then from the viewpoint of the mothers. The shift in perspective is more effective for some of the storylines than others, but strong performances from an excellent cast, particularly Frances O’Connor and Miranda Otto, more than make up for it. June 4 6:30 pm – Pacific Place, June 5 4:00 pm – Pacific Place

The Last Campaign of Governor Booth : After two terms as Washington’s governor, Booth Gardner decided to retire. A year later he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. In 2006, Gardner became heavily involved in Washington Initiative 1000 – the Death With Dignity Act even though, ironically, his own disease wasn’t covered by it. Director Daniel Junge focuses on the campaign’s final six weeks leading up to the 2008 election – the fierce debates it engendered, the toll it took on Gardner’s health, and the very serious issues of advocacy and autonomy tied to serious chronic illness. Dean Sandra O. Archibald of the Evans School of Public Affairs at UW moderates a screening discussion panel that includes Gardner, Arline Hinckley, and Duane French. June 5 4:00 pm – SIFF Cinema

Morning : Joseph Mitacek’s debut feature, filmed in and around Seattle, is an unflinching look at the aftermath of a young child’s untimely death and the terrible toll it takes on the already shaky marriage of his unhappy parents. Although the story is often extremely bleak, the city has never looked better on film; Mitacek uses actual, unadorned Seattle to great effect. June 5 6:30 pm – Harvard Exit, June 6 11:00 am – Harvard Exit

The Wild Hunt : While Erik Magnusson spends his days caring for his ailing father, his older brother Bjorn spends his pretending to be a Viking chieftain in a large and active live action role playing community. Erik’s not happy with this situation and it gets even worse when Erik’s girlfriend Evelyn decides to take a break from their relationship by joining Bjorn’s world where she gets to be a princess. Determined to fix their relationship, Erik ends up reluctantly joining the game as well, much to the unhappiness of the dedicated LARPers upset by his refusal to take any of it seriously. Before long, Erik’s arrival upsets the elaborate fantasy world’s careful balance, leading to serious real world danger. An exciting, credible thriller must-see. June 5 Midnight – Egyptian, June 7 9:30 – Neptune

I Killed My Mother : Writer/director Xavier Dolan stars as a gay teen at war with his mother in a coming of age drama with an acidic comic twist. Hubert hates his mother’s gauche manners, but she is thoroughly unsympathetic to his complaints. At the height of their war she sends him off to boarding school – can their already damaged relationship survive? June 6 7:00 pm – Egyptian

Skateland : a coming-of-age drama about 19 year old Ritchie Wheeler (Shiloh Fernandez), an aimless young man content with his small town Texas life as the manager of a local skating rink in the early 1980s. He spends his days at work or hanging out with his friends, including girlfriend Michelle (Ashley Greene). Life seems settled for Ritchie until the closing of the rink and a series of personal tragedies force him to have to think about his life in a serious way for the first time. June 6 8:00 pm – Kirkland

Animation for Adults : Cartoons aren’t just for kids – from traditional to computer generated animation, these shorts are designed with grown up tastes in mind. “Santa: the Fascist Years” is not to be missed. June 6 9:30 pm – Neptune