A mother and daughter face unthinkable dangers as they flee a brutal civil war. Can those most affected by the violence return and rebuild the nation that was stolen from them?

TRAILER

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“Because I was different, they wanted to kill me… then night came.”

Shamira Muhammed | Protagonist

South Sudan has been in violent conflict for decades. Ending the cycle of violence starts with understanding the people most affected, and the science behind generational trauma.

The quiet, confident words of twelve-year-old Shamira Muhammed have a haunting quality. She recounts the difficult decision she and her mother must make when facing certain death in South Sudan. They choose to trek the 100 miles of brutal terrain in hopes that they will find a new life in a refugee camp in Uganda. Failed murder attempts, weeks in the harsh African bush, and unthinkable abuse on dangerous dirt roads cause them to consider if a violent death in their own home would have been a more humane choice. 

Beneath their personal story, the history of South Sudan comes into focus. Devastated by one of the bloodiest conflicts since WWII, South Sudan has struggled to maintain lasting peace over the last few decades. Most of the globe remains unfamiliar with the political coups, mass atrocities, and the billions of dollars in laundered aid that has crippled the nation. THE ELEPHANTS AND THE GRASS is a feature-length documentary that highlights Shamira’s story to humanize the horrors of war and champion the courageous women and children who, if given a chance, might be the last hope to rebuild South Sudan. Each chapter of Shamira’s account sets the stage for in-depth exploration into racism, tribalism, unchecked power dynamics, and trauma. Shamira’s story is singular, but her obstacles are universal. This is not just a story about South Sudan, but how the human brain works and experiences the horrors of war. The film examines how people in power are able to weaponize individual’s trauma to turn them against each other. How Shamira and her mother overcome their own trauma is the inspiring culmination of the film.

The country continues to find itself on the brink of collapse. With Shamira and Yasmin still stuck in a refugee camp with no viable path to substantial education and countless still haunted by unresolved trauma, the question remains, “What happens next for the people of South Sudan?” It is reminiscent of an old African parable: “When elephants fight, it is the grass that is trampled. But the grass always grows back.”

“They were born in the war, we raised them in the war.”

Simon Peter  |  Elder/Refugee

Two storytelling approaches, woven together

1 - Memories

First are a series of memories. Shamira recalls the harrowing events that led to her living with her mother in a refugee camp. Her journey is visualized through cinematic re-creations and captioned in her handwriting. THE ELEPHANTS AND THE GRASS bre…

First are a series of memories. Shamira recalls the harrowing events that led to her living with her mother in a refugee camp. Her journey is visualized through cinematic re-creations and captioned in her handwriting. THE ELEPHANTS AND THE GRASS breaks up the documentary with these dramatic short-films.

2 - Vérité, Archival, Personal Interviews

In between the re-creations are a mix of present-day vérité scenes, archival footage, and personal interviews. Refugees, politicians, global experts, and neuroscientists weigh in on the current state of South Sudan, the effects of ethnic genocide, a…

In between the re-creations are a mix of present-day vérité scenes, archival footage, and personal interviews. Refugees, politicians, global experts, and neuroscientists weigh in on the current state of South Sudan, the effects of ethnic genocide, and the displacement of its citizens. These sections connect Shamira’s journey with the larger story of South Sudan.

THE PEOPLE

Shamira Muhammad - Protagonist, Refugee

Bishop Taban - Pastor, Peace Advocate

Salva Kiir & Riek Machar - Feuding Leaders

Peter Biar Ajak - Defector, Former South Sudan Policy Advisor

Arash Javanbakht & Tanja Jovanovic -Psychiatrists

Yasmin - Shamira’s Mother, Former Lawyer

Simon Peter - Shamira’s Teacher, Returnee

John Prendergast - Investigator, Activist

Anna Cavell & Sam Mednick - Journalists

THE TEAM

Beau Rosario and Brandon Gulish are the Co-Directors of The Elephants and the Grass. They have years of experience as filmmakers, but what first took them to South Sudan was water. While volunteering for an organization that impacts the lives of women in South Sudan through clean drinking wells, they met Shamira and her mother Yasmin. They immediately connected with these inspiring women, seeing elements of their own mothers, daughters, and wives. Being ill-prepared to tell their story alone, they have leaned heavily on a diverse team that includes South Sudanese men and women, a Rwandan production team, and experts from around the world.

Clint Rosario is a Producer with Philamedia, managing projects from the company’s larger commercial work, to unscripted content like The Elephants and the Grass. He enjoys the relational and strategic elements of producing in the field, as well as seeing how our teams translate stories to the big screen. Serving the kids of the local Philly community and exploring the world are some of Clint's biggest inspirations and favorite ways to spend his time.

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Andrew Bilindabagabo is a Director/Producer from Rwanda. Having studied film in the US, and now living in Pennsylvania, Andrew’s focuses are in commercial filmmaking and geo-political documentaries in East Africa. He helped organize a team of Rwandan filmmakers to help tell Shamira’s story and consulted on how to approach this unique story with the cultural sensitivity of someone who’s own family survived a brutal war.

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Carley Bilindabagabo is a Producer from Lancaster, PA with Ingoma Group. Carley’s talents were vital in filming internationally. Her background made her uniquely qualified to help oversee a production that featured many young women in Central and Eastern Africa.

100 Pixels is a production company in Kigali, Rwanda. The team is made up of men and women who work to not only support outside productions but also to tell engaging stories about the people of Rwanda. They were vital in helping shape the nuance of telling a story about personal trauma experienced by men and women in a violent civil war.

Gabriel Ruot Tot worked as a fixer and consultant during production in Uganda. As a South Sudanese refugee, himself, Gabriel spent many long days helping to translate and understand more deeply the stories shared in the Rhino Refugee camp.

Acknowledgment

It must be stated that many South Sudanese men and women risked a great deal to help support and contribute in the making of this film. Due to political pressure, and concern for personal safety, some have asked to remain anonymous at this time. Our appreciation of their time, resources, and wisdom cannot be understated. We look forward to a future when the tension subside and we can highlight these individuals properly. 

PRODUCTION STILLS