Goodbye Julia

Film release date: 2023 Film languages: Arabic (Sudanese)
(English subtitles)
Followed by refreshments.

This drama, directed by Mohamed Kordofani, received a standing ovation when released at Cannes in 2023 and won the Prix de la Liberté (Freedom Prize) in the 'Un Certain Regard' division. The action of the film takes place in the years before South Sudan became a separate entity. It tells the story of Mona, a wealthy Muslim and a former popular singer in Northern Sudan, who hires as her maid a poor Christian woman with a son from the South, Julia. Mona had caused the death of Julia's husband and hopes that by assisting his widow she can atone for past wrongs.

The film received 5 stars on Rotten Tomatoes and critics commented that it 'gives a human face to the contentious politics of the region' and also that 'the political never overwhelms the personal'.

It had 7 wins and 14 nominations at Cannes. Critics praised the story, the musical score and the work of first time filmmaker Kordofani. Among awards at other film festivals, Goodbye Julia received the Prix Jean Renoir des lycéens therefore being selected to be studied by 400,000 French secondary school students taking the Film Studies option in the 2024/25 academic year.