Watch The Invisible City: Kakuma

The Invisible City: Kakuma is a powerful documentary that explores the daily lives of refugees living in the Kakuma refugee camp in northern Kenya. The camp houses over 180,000 refugees from various war-torn countries such as South Sudan, Ethiopia, and Somalia. The film introduces the audience to some of the inhabitants of the camp and their individual stories of struggles and survival. It primarily focuses on the lives of three people – Nancy, a South Sudanese woman whose husband was killed in the war, Guled, a Somali teenager who was forced to flee his home due to the terrorism perpetrated by al-Shabaab, and Nyakong, a young girl whose parents had to leave her behind when they migrated to the United States.

The documentary is a rare and intimate portrayal of the difficult conditions that refugees face on a daily basis. The Kakuma camp is notoriously overcrowded, with limited resources and basic infrastructure. Despite the harsh living conditions, however, the refugees manage to carve out a life for themselves, relying on each other for support and solidarity.

In addition to the personal stories of refugees, the documentary also delves into the complexities of the international aid system and the challenges of providing assistance to such a large number of displaced people. It also highlights the political and economic factors that contribute to the ongoing conflicts in the refugees' countries of origin and the ways in which Western countries and global institutions are implicated in these issues.

The film's strength lies in its ability to humanize the refugees and challenge the common misconception that they are a homogenous mass of helpless victims. Rather, it presents them as individuals who are often highly educated and skilled, who have distinct personalities, hopes, and dreams. The documentary invites the audience to empathize with the refugees and see them as fellow human beings who deserve dignity, respect, and opportunity.

The Invisible City: Kakuma is a beautifully crafted documentary that blends stunning cinematography with a compelling narrative. The film is shot on location, giving it an immersive quality that transports the viewer to the heart of the refugee camp. The cinematography captures the stark beauty of the African landscape as well as the gritty reality of life in the camp.

In terms of its pacing and structure, the documentary is carefully crafted to balance the personal stories of the refugees with the broader political and social context. The film is structured around a series of interwoven narratives that provide insight into the experiences of different refugees and the challenges they face.

Overall, The Invisible City: Kakuma is a must-see film that will leave a lasting impact on its viewers. It functions not only as a moving human-interest story but also as a powerful critique of the global political and economic order that produces and perpetuates the refugee crisis. The film challenges us to see refugees as more than just victims, but as resilient individuals whose dignity and humanity deserve to be recognized.

The Invisible City: Kakuma is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 14 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.4.