Goodbye Julia

Fiction, director: Mohamed Kordofani, Sudan/Egypt/Germany/France/Saudi Arabia/Sweden, 2023, 120 min., Arab. with Ger. ST

*Followed by a Film Talk with Sound Designer Rana Eid.

Mona (Eiman Yousif), a retired singer from the North Sudanese upper class, finds herself entangled in a tragic twist of fate when she inadvertently causes the death of a man from South Sudan. Driven by a profound sense of remorse, Mona tries to make up for her deeds by offering refuge to Julia (Siran Riak), the mans unsuspecting widow, and her son. As Julia assumes the role of a domestic servant within Mona’s household, an unconventional dynamic begins to unfold.

Amidst the backdrop of mounting unrest in the nation, Mona grapples with the weight of her guilt and is forced to confront the intricacies of her actions, navigating a precarious path towards redemption amidst the turbulent currents of change.

Goodbye Julia premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the 2023 Cannes film festival, where it won the Freedom Prize. It has been selected ever since in numerous international film festivals, collecting over 10 nominations, and winning many awards, among them the Roger Ebert Award at Chicago International Film Festival, and the Cinema for Humanity Prize at the El Gouna Film Festival.