Like a Man on Earth

 

On Wednesday, 12 March 2014 Like a Man on Earth, a documentary film, was shown at Ahmanson Auditorium in Loyola Marymount University's University Hall. Almost every seat was filled as lights dimmed down for the opening scene. From the very beginning, the film had the audiences’ full attention. Hardly anyone shifted in their seats. The sounds of the dialogue echoed throughout the entire auditorium.  

Like a Man on Earth describes the treacherous journey of Dag (Dagmawi), a man journeying with many others bound for various parts of Europe. Dag realizes that the migration conditions were not at all pleasant. His companions, including the women, experienced harsh beatings. There were sequences when Dag asks a few of them to give their personal testimonies of the journey; most of them felt obliged to speak up, even though their feelings towards the brutality of the Libyan and Sudanese's transporters through the Saharan desert too much to endure. Although some of the immigrants did not make an ill-fated journey as the others, the agony and bitterness of mistreatment was part of their experience. However, not one of the people whom Dag interviewed wanted to say their efforts were in vain. They were determined to accomplish their goal no matter how difficult it would be.

The filmmakers interacting with the audience

Once the lights came on again, everyone seemed as if they had traveled back in time. From where I was sitting, the people looked as if their emotions had been stirred. A sense of vulnerability and accomplishment filled the auditorium. Elias Wondimu and Prof. Aine O'Healy opened up for questions and answers and moderated a discussion with the two filmmakers. The message of the documentary had done its heartfelt work. There was not a single word for anyone to describe what it felt like to be in these peoples’ shoes. The film enduring human experience, which made an incredibly, deep impact on everyone in attendance.

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David Coles-Perez is an intern at Tsehai Publishers and Marymount Institute Press and can be contacted at dcoles1@lion.lmu.edu.

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