Shame on me. I occasionally covered my eyes upon seeing some heartbreaking images of the Lost Boys’ bitter journey away from the turmoils in Sudan, while watching the film God Grew Tired of Us. To my surprise, Nicole Kidman’s velvety narration couldn’t ease the trauma presented by the raw footages of children starvation, extreme violence and prolonged despair. However, in the midst of my own denial there is this striking detail that I find interesting and relieving at the same time: the use of music, or more correctly African inspired music in the film.
The film makers carefully select several recordings that suit the ambiance as well as the cultural settings of Eastern Africa.
Traces of music as a cultural form mobilized by forces of turmoil (Schaffer and Smith) then become evident in God Grew Tired of Us, specifically in the farewell scene of the Lost Boys before they leave for America. The moment they have to say goodbye to their peers, they express it not solely by words, but also through a song.
’“I will sing this song to remind you that we have had hardship together. [sings]. If you guys forget, we will not be happy. Make sure your letters reach us in the camp. You guys go with this song, sing this wherever you are and we will sing it here in Africa.”
Notice that the idea of “not forgetting” (Chute) is mentioned here, music surely has an impact in this process of dislocation (Schaffer and Smith): the farewell song represents both the cultural identity and the personal emotions the boys have for their company. Wherever this song is sung, the meaning remains the same. The remembrance for the past through the hardship they faced, the presence of singing the song now in Africa, and the future of the song wherever the Boys go, possibly America.
Hi Henry, I also feel like songs is a good medium to express your feelings. As you mentioned, when the lost boys left for the United States, their feelings are too complicated to express in words. In this case, it is a great tool to show their feelings by a song which can express such feelings, including sadness, loneliness, and fear. While Chute suggests that graphic narratives can represent trauma, I argue that songs can also help us express feelings, which not only include trauma, but also include other various feelings, such as sadness, loneliness, and fear.
Mason Miao