In the late 1980s, war in Sudan left behind over 20,000 male orphans, the "lost boys." Some were chosen to participate in a resettlement program in America - a distant place so presumably full of hope and opportunity that the Sudanese sometimes call it Heaven. But what if a free ticket to "Heaven" turns out to be anything but?

Safe at last, but a world away from home, Santino and Peter must grapple with extreme cultural differences as they come to understand both the abundance and alienation of contemporary American life.

Additional materials:

• Discussion Guide
• Use the Film to Make a Difference

Lost Boys may be disorienting at first because of its lack of voice-over narration and direct interviews. Disorientation creeps up as we "live" the first year in America with these two young African men. In subtle yet haunting ways, the film asks us to question our assumptions about refugees and immigrants, and examine our own North American cultural failings. The discussion materials are detailed and helpful.