Downstream to Kinshasa: Film Screening with Jesuit Retreat Center

The Jesuit Retreat Center, located in Parma, was fortunate enough to sponsor two films at the 45th Cleveland International Film Festival this year, including Downstream to Kinshasa, directed by Dieudo Hamadi! To celebrate this amazing film, the Jesuit Retreat Center hosted a small and socially-distanced film screening that included guests from the Congolese community, including US Together clients and staff!

US Together clients at the film screening of Downstream to Kinshasa

Congolese community members who came to the film screening of Downstream to Kinshasa

Downstream to Kinshasa follows survivors of the Six-Day War of Kinsangani that took place in June 2000, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, all of whom were left amputees after the war. Survivors head to the Congo’s capital, Kinshasa, to demand the government recognize their pain and stories, and repay them for what they had lost.

After the film, those in attendance were given the opportunity to describe their reactions to the documentary and to present a question for the director, Dieudo Hamadi. Rick Krivanka, JRC’s Executive Director, would ask the questions presented at the screening in an interview with Dieudo on Tuesday, April 13th. You can watch the Q&A between Rick and Dieudo here.

A few people from the Congolese community pointed out after the film that the violence of the Six Day War in the documentary continues to persist in the Congo and needs to be addressed. Dieudo Hamadi stated in his interview with JRC that he in fact made the film for “the struggle against forgetfulness” and to force people to remember this forgotten war and “to bring it back into the world”.

A member of Cleveland’s Congolese community speaking about how the film made him feel.

We are so thankful to have such amazing community partners, like the Jesuit Retreat Center, with values that align with those of US Together. We know how important it is to never forget events like the Six Day War of Kinsangani in order to prevent them from ever happening again, and we especially believe in opening the doors to safety for those who are forced to flee their homes.

To learn more about the film and to view the trailor, please visit Cleveland International Film Festival’s Downstream to Kinshasa page.