The documentary “God Grew Tired of Us” serves as a powerful life narrative of the “lost boys” who seek refuge in the United States from their life in the Kakuma refugee camp. The film focuses on three men – John, Daniel and Panther, following their new lives in a foreign country. The culture shock is instantly apparent as the film shows their reaction to electricity and running water in their apartment. But the film also subtly suggests cultural differences, like the lack of community importance in the US. The film follows the boys as they struggle with their identity, and dealing with their past in a new country.

This film is structured by dispersing interviews with the boys throughout the narration of their story by Nicole Kidman. It made me question though, why aren’t the boys narrating their own story? The answer is simply because of star power. This film was not only narrated by Nicole Kidman, but the executive producer was Brad Pitt, and by having such big hollywood names the movie would have likely gotten more leverage and publicity in the market. Nicole Kidman added a celebrity aspect to the movie, and would likely make people more interested in a documentary, rather than if the lost boys narrated it.

It seems that increasingly in the west by having a celebrities name attached to a humanitarian cause, the issue automatically gets more attention and often therefore money to benefit the cause. Using celebrities for campaigns has a strong impact, but do pose some ethical questions. Celebrities can take away from the importance of the issue, as they are gaining publicity as well by doing these humanitarian initiatives. NYU Economist Bill Easterly says that, “[celebrities in support of aid efforts] amplify the simplistic idea of the basket case that is Africa. A homogeneous place that is in need of benevolent outsiders, and celebrities, to save destitute children. Most importantly, current celebrities do not challenge the power structures that perpetuate poverty.” (http://www.humanosphere.org/2013/09/the-marginal-impact-of-celebrity-on-humanitarian-campaigns/)

Furthermore, according to the popular website Wikipedia, this film stars, “John Dau, Nicole Kidman, Daniel Abul Pach, and Panther Boir.” Reading this made me pause, as I thought, “Nicole Kidman?”, I knew she was the narrator of the film but it didn’t seem right that she would be listed as a star beside the three men who the film revolves around. Not only that but within the list of stars she is number two. By her being listed as a star it seemed to de tract some of the significance of Panther, John and Daniel, and their story. When we watched the movie I honestly didn’t even know she was the narrator until the end. I understand that she did play an important role in the film and should be credited for her work, but that title of ‘star’ just seemed out of place.