God Grew Tired Of Us (2007)
RT Audience Score: 95%
Awards & Nominations: 8 wins
God Grew Tired of Us is a poignant and inspiring documentary that tells the story of the “Lost Boys” of Sudan, who were forced to flee their homes due to civil war and genocide. The film follows the journey of three young men, John, Daniel, and Panther, as they navigate the challenges of adapting to life in America while trying to maintain their cultural identity and help their families back home. While the film does have its flaws, such as a lack of footage showing the boys’ initial struggles in America, it ultimately succeeds in delivering a powerful message of hope and resilience in the face of adversity. The Lost Boys’ story is a testament to the human spirit and a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of light.
God Grew Tired of Us is a documentary that will make you laugh, cry, and question your own life choices. It follows the journey of three Sudanese men who were forced to flee their homes and country due to war and genocide. The film shows their struggles and triumphs as they adapt to life in America, from learning how to use a microwave to reuniting with family members after years of separation. It’s a heartwarming and inspiring story that reminds us of the resilience of the human spirit. Plus, John, Daniel, and Panther are just downright lovable. You’ll want to give them all a big hug by the end of the film.
Production Company(ies)
Lost Boys of Sudan National Geographic Films, Silver Nitrate Pictures,
Distributor
Newmarket Film Group
Release Type
Theatrical
Filming Location(s)
High Point, North Carolina, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for thematic elements and some disturbing images
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby Digital
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Aspect ratio:1.78 : 1 / (high definition)
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Runtime:1h 26m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jan 12, 2007 Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 14, 2007
Genre(s)
Documentary
Keyword(s)
God Grew Tired of Us, documentary, PG, Christopher Dillon Quinn, directed by Christopher Dillon Quinn, written by Christopher Dillon Quinn, produced by Christopher Dillon Quinn, produced by Molly Bradford Pace, executive produced by Brad Pitt and Adam Schlesinger, starring Jon Bul Dau, Daniel Abul Pach, Panther Bior, Nicole Kidman as narrator, box office gross $301.4K, Sudanese refugees, United States, human spirit, determination, resilience, exiled, horrors, homeland, adjustment, new lives, documentary genre, poignant, powerful, uplifting, thought-provoking, inspiring, Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, community, isolationist tendencies, anti-heroes, immigrant experience, electricity, fascinating
Worldwide gross: $301,447
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $431,843
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,774
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 47,093
US/Canada gross: $301,447
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $431,843
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,363
US/Canada opening weekend: $21,858
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $31,313
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,361
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Christopher Dillon Quinn – Director, Producer, Writer
Molly Bradford Pace – Producer
Brad Pitt – Executive Producer
Adam Schlesinger – Executive Producer
Director(s)
Christopher Dillon Quinn
Writer(s)
Christopher Dillon Quinn
Producer(s)
Christopher Dillon Quinn, Molly Bradford Pace
Film Festivals
Sundance
Awards & Nominations
8 wins
Academy Awards
All Critics (69) | Top Critics (27) | Fresh (63) | Rotten (6)
Too often with documentaries, we get only the tears. There is no second act or resolution. Christopher Quinn’s God Grew Tired of Us gives us reason to hope about a human catastrophe.
April 7, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Howell
Toronto Star
TOP CRITIC
Not as good, nor as complex, as The Lost Boys, but that doesn’t make the story of mass annihilation, sprawling refugee camps, the generosity of Americans, and the resilience of a handful of Sudanese survivors any less worthy of telling — again.
March 9, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Steven Rea
Philadelphia Inquirer
TOP CRITIC
There’s no way to not like [John] Dau. Or for that matter, God Grew Tired of Us.
February 22, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5
Bill Muller
Arizona Republic
TOP CRITIC
Their journey isn’t over — many in Africa still desperately need help — but the hope and opportunities America offers are a grand place to start.
February 16, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Bruce Westbrook
Houston Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The film affirms that if it is possible to survive when you have lost your home, family, and country, it is possible to start over and prevail.
February 8, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Can there really be no footage of their uncertainty, anger at unfriendly Americans, even an embrace of bad habits?
February 3, 2007 | Rating: 3/6
Joshua Rothkopf
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Admittedly amusing fish-out-of-water moments are nothing compared to what the boys face as they try to adapt to a wildly foreign culture.
February 28, 2008 | Rating: 6/10
Brandon Fibbs
BrandonFibbs.com
It’s an uplifting last act, though not one that comes with solutions to an Africa that seems to cough up one genocide after another. Personal redemption and hope aren’t a cure-all, but they do shine a light in the darkness.
September 22, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/5
Jim Slotek
Jam! Movies
The Lost Boys’ gratitude for simple things will humble those of us accustomed to comfort and opportunity. Their endurance, ambition, and compassion should inspire us.
August 22, 2007 | Rating: A-
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer
A thought-provoking film likely to make moviegoers question their own paths in life even as it involves them in the lives of several of the ‘Lost Boys’ of Sudan…
March 30, 2007 | Rating: 3.5/4
John Beifuss
Commercial Appeal (Memphis, TN)
God Grew Tired of Us is a better film than Lost Boys of Sudan, focusing on details of the men’s lives and shifting fluidly between three distinct “characters”: John, Daniel and Panther.
March 29, 2007 | Rating: 3/4
Chris Hewitt
St. Paul Pioneer Press
The film’s subjects display impressive adaptability, as well as a desire not to forget those they’ve left behind. The emotional high point is a miraculous reunion between one of the ‘Lost Boys’ and the mother he’d had no contact with for 17 years.
March 23, 2007 | Rating: B+
Marc Mohan
Oregonian…
Plot
God Grew Tired of Us follows the journey of three Sudanese refugees as they try to come to terms with the horrors they experienced in their homeland, while adjusting to their new lives in the United States.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features Nicole Kidman as the narrator.
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