

Movie spotlight
Talking About Trees
Filmmakers Ibrahim, Suliman, Eltayeb and Manar, close friends for many years, left their motherland in the sixties and seventies to study film abroad and founded the Sudanese Film Group in 1989. After years of distance and exile, they are reunited, hoping to finally make their old dream come true: to bring back cinema to Sudan by reopening the Halfaia Cinema, a dilapidated theater in Khartoum.
Insights
Plot Summary
In Sudan, the once-vibrant film industry has been in decline for decades due to political instability and a lack of funding. Three elderly filmmakers, who were once pioneers, are determined to revive the glory days by reopening a dilapidated cinema. The film captures their passionate efforts, their struggles against bureaucracy and dwindling resources, and their unwavering love for cinema.
Critical Reception
Talking About Trees was highly acclaimed by critics for its poignant portrayal of the struggle to preserve cinematic art in the face of adversity. Reviewers lauded its warmth, humor, and the infectious passion of its subjects, highlighting it as a love letter to filmmaking and the power of collective dreams. The documentary resonated with audiences for its universal themes of perseverance and the enduring spirit of creativity.
What Reviewers Say
A deeply moving and humorous tribute to the power of cinema and the resilience of its creators.
Celebrates the unwavering passion of filmmakers fighting to keep their art form alive against all odds.
An inspiring documentary that champions the dreams and camaraderie of those who love movies.
Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly praised 'Talking About Trees' for its heartwarming story, its celebration of friendship and passion for filmmaking, and its inspiring message of hope and perseverance. Many found the documentary to be a beautiful and touching experience.
Awards & Accolades
Berlinale International Film Festival - Audience Award (Panorama), FIPRESCI Prize (International Federation of Film Critics) - Panorama Audience Award, Edinburgh International Film Festival - Best Documentary Feature
Fun Fact
The film's subjects, the three filmmakers, are all in their 70s and 80s and had previously worked on films that were once screened at major international festivals in the 1960s and 70s.
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