SHAMIRA MUHAMMED
ONE GIRL’S TERRIFYING JOURNEY TO FLEE A BRUTAL TRIBAL WAR IN SOUTH SUDAN, AND HER PLANS TO BE A PART OF THE COUNTRY'S REDEMPTION.
“They were born in the war, we raised them in the war.”
Simon Peter | Elder/Refugee
The Story
Fourteen-year-old Shamira Muhammed and her disabled mother flee brutal civil war in South Sudan to seek safety in a Ugandan refugee camp. Shamira recounts her harrowing journey, as we uncover the political conflict and cultural instability that displaced her.
The Context
South Sudan (the world’s newest country) is in the middle of a feud between its political leaders. Exploiting past cultural tensions, those in power are actively militarizing their respective tribes to fight. The Bricks seeks to uncover how institutionalized rape, child soldiers, and ultimately genocide have become the cultural norm in this young country, while the country works toward reformation.
With half of South Sudan’s population displaced, Uganda becomes the continent’s largest host country, and the world’s view of “refugees” grows increasingly distorted. Can the world truly understand the plight of a refugee group? Are South Sudan’s people even interested in peace? Will the world ever hold them accountable? The Bricks is a commentary of the world’s perception of refugees, our loss of innocence, and our capacity to dehumanize one another. But, more importantly it’s a triumph of youthful bravery, perseverance, and a nation's redemption.
The Girl
Among all this is Shamira, a girl who can lift heavy bags of rations, take wisecrack shots at the boys in her camp, and…is a refugee. Shamira is unlike her peers; lighter-skinned and tribe-less, she’s an outcast even at home. Her Turkish father fled when she was young, and it wasn’t long before she and her mother realized their own need to leave. As today’s peace treaties fail and the war rages in the background, Shamira recounts the horrors of her journey to Uganda. Plagued by murder, gang rape, and even cannibalism, is the three-week journey one that both Shamira and her disabled mother can survive?
“So, I carried my mom with all my energy… I carried my mom fast.”
Shamira Muhammed | Refugee
The Team
Brandon Gulish has spent his career working alongside strong teams to tell engaging stories. Most notably, Brandon has served as Director/Producer for projects including Dual Survival(Supervising Producer/Director, for Discovery Channel), The Great Human Race (Director, for National Geographic), Dangerous Grounds (Co-Executive Producer/Director for The Travel Channel), and Uncommon Grounds (Co-Executive Producer/Director The Travel Channel). Brandon’s work has earned him an Emmy Nomination and taken him to over 40 countries, overseeing production crews on five continents. He is passionate about honest storytelling and trying bizarre foods every place he visits.
Beau Rosario is the Creative Director of Philamedia, a Philadelphia-based production house. Beau wears many hats for the company’s commercial clients, directing or producing a wide variety of works. However, his favorite place to be is behind the camera- Beau is a visual storyteller, first and foremost. Like Brandon and Nick, he loves to travel for his clients (most recently, Paris, Iceland, Cambodia, etc) but nothing has come close to the relationships formed in Rhino Refugee Camp, Uganda. Tutoring his neighborhood’s children in Philly and sharing with them the fun of filmmaking is what brings him the most joy, and he is currently directing a short film in which they star.
Nick Rose is a photographer, filmmaker and designer. He owns a multi-disciplinary creative studio, providing a wide range of creative services to a variety of clients. Motivated by the freedom to travel and meet new people abroad, Nick enjoys telling their stories through film and photography, and he is always looking forward to the next adventure.