We Come as Friends

We Come as Friends is a riveting documentary, providing an insightful, multi-dimensional and thought-provoking look at modern-day Sudan. This film was skillfully directed by Hubert Sauper, an accomplished Austrian documentary filmmaker and producer renowned for his meticulous tapestry of socio-political narrative in his projects.

While the title We Come as Friends suggests friendship and peace, the film thoroughly explores and challenges this notion. It presents a critical examination of neo-colonialism, deconstructing the underlying motivations and actions of "helping" foreign entities in Sudan, one of Africa's largest and resource-rich countries.

Sauper starts from the prismatic premise of Sudan's partition in 2011, when South Sudan emerged as an independent nation. However, far from being a tale of hope and independence, the filmmaker presents this key historical event as a battlefield where multinational corporations, international diplomacy, religious factions, and local struggles are all at play. The film is shot with hand-held cameras, sometimes positioned in idiosyncratic places, resulting in a tour-de-force of observational cinema, gathered over years of on-ground investigation.

A unique approach to We Come as Friends is Sauper's use of a small homemade airplane – a unifying symbol connecting the sections of his narrative. With it, Sauper and his team hop between locations across Sudan, touching down in new places and circumstances. This ingenuity allows him to channel an outsider's perspective while navigating through the unfamiliar terrain, instigating conversations with locals that would otherwise be challenging to navigate.

Throughout the movie, the audience gets to meet an array of characters, including Sudanese villagers, Chinese oil workers, American evangelists, and several others. Each of these players brings fresh perspectives into the everyday struggles, negotiations, and contradictions that characterize life in a contested post-colonial space. The diverse set of characters and the thoughtful handling of their stories avoid simplifying the complex reality of Sudan's situation and show how interconnected the world truly is.

We Come as Friends touches on the semantic production of Africa in the western imagination and the discontents of international philanthropy, among other weighty topics. Sauper's documentation dives deep into the heart of the exploitative system where foreign benefactors, under the guise of friendship and aid, aim to extract the wealth of the country. One of the most powerful elements in the documentary is its ability to expose the hypocrisy of the neo-colonial order.

As Sauper continues his investigative voyage, he exposes the tragedy of disparate societies both struggling and adapting to changing geopolitical landscapes. Land dispossession, cultural displacement, and the raw reality of warfare form the core of Sauper's narrative, offering profound insight into the destructive consequences of western diplomacy and capitalism in Africa.

But the film is not entirely grim; there are moments of lightness and ironic humor. Sauper also excels in his sensitivity towards the Sudanese citizens, displaying their resilience and strength despite the political and economic challenges they face daily. Their spirit and hope are captured wonderfully, illuminating a side of Africa that is often overlooked by mainstream media.

The cinematography of We Come as Friends is also noteworthy, capturing extraordinary landscapes often juxtaposed with unsettling realities. The visuals are interweaved with the chilling narrative, compelling the audience to see beyond the picturesque exteriors to the complex undercurrents of control, profit, and political machination.

We Come as Friends serves as an urgent and poignant commentary on the effects of globalization and neo-colonialism. It's a must-watch not only for the fans of documentaries but also for social science enthusiasts, geopolitical observers, and anyone looking to understand the complex dynamics of international relations, diplomacy, and global inequality. Through its look at Africa specifically, this film is a mirror to the disparities in power and economy worldwide.

In conclusion, We Come as Friends is a compelling cinematic journey. It delivers a powerful, thought-provoking message about the entangling web of exploitation, greed and the persistence of colonial-style oppression, all packaged under a seemingly endearing tag of 'friendship'. This award-winning documentary is bound to leave the audience reflecting, resonating and reconsidering their perceptions of Africa, international aid and the insidious dangers of neocolonialism.