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The Heart of Nuba

Play trailer 2:28 Poster for The Heart of Nuba Released Apr 6, 2018 1h 25m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 10 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
American doctor Tom Catena dedicates his life to treating patients in the Nuba Mountains of war-torn Sudan.

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The Heart of Nuba

Critics Reviews

View All (10) Critics Reviews
Gary Goldstein Los Angeles Times Absorbingly, unfussily captures Catena's daily challenges and feats while also painting a vivid, often heartbreaking portrait of a forgotten people trapped in an underreported sociopolitical nightmare. Apr 19, 2018 Full Review Frank Scheck Hollywood Reporter The Heart of Nuba delivers a moving but thankfully not overly sentimental portrait of this admirable figure. Apr 5, 2018 Full Review Glenn Kenny New York Times The film is worth seeing because it's a moving and remarkable story and it represents a great cause. Apr 5, 2018 Full Review Hosea Rupprecht Catholic News Service Directed by Ken Carlson, this uplifting documentary follows Dr. Thomas Catena as he lives and works with the people of the Nuba Mountains region of Sudan. Aug 12, 2021 Full Review Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat Spirituality & Practice An inspiring and enlightening portrait of a Catholic doctor in Africa serving over a million people every year Rated: 5/5 Apr 23, 2018 Full Review Sr. Rose Pacatte National Catholic Reporter The Heart of Nuba is remarkable, to me, for Carlson's ability to show how a Catholic layman lives his faith in a world of conflict with almost no humanitarian aid and is able to support his team's efforts to help the sick, wounded and dying. Apr 10, 2018 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member I'll echo what the reviews say -- inspiring. This is a man who is making his life count for something, He is both "up there" spiritually and someone you would like to sit down and talk to over lunch. Glad I had the chance to "meet" him in this film. He makes me want to do more with my life. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member In my experience and study I have not been able to come up with any satisfying answer to the question of innocent suffering. I have noticed though that human beings are commonly the cause and the perpetuators. Where does one find hope for a better day in a climate of unhindered greed, unconstrained, hate-filled violence and the easy justification of amorality? A good start is seeing this movie. The Heart of Nuba is an exquisite documentary that somehow mines precious jewels of hope from the hard bedrock of intentionally inflicted horror. In South Sudan, people daily endure the systematic and brutal violence that results in unimaginable suffering wreaked upon them by their own indicted war criminal president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Yet, (there is always a yet) something greater is revealed in this film. We human beings always have agency to lean in the direction of upholding life, goodness, joy and even happiness. We can turn in a different direction and make a difference in our own sphere of influence. The Heart of Nuba documents precisely such a ship of hope in a sea of despair. The film chronicles Dr. Tom Catena, the only doctor at Mother of Mercy Hospital in the remote mountains of southern Sudan's Nuba Mountains. Even as aerial bombings frequently shatter small, peaceful villages, Dr. Catena tends to the sick and injured with unfettered dedication. He show us the very real connection that transcends all boundaries to our common humanity and the inherent dignity. He lives a life that lifts up everyone's self-worth beyond personal safety, the love of others over personal wealth or societal success. He lives as if the Gospel is actually true and that there really is a living God who truly cares every bit as much for the poor and disenfranchised. Filmmaker Kenneth Carlson has woven together a complex and dramatic story about how hope endures as the indomitable power over injustice. Dr. Tom demonstrates how hope can never be defeated as long as we continue to do all that we can to advance the cause of justice, advocacy, and dignity for all who suffer. It seems to me that Carlson has brought to light this story as a call to action. In a time of darkness, fear and poisonous rhetoric, each of us must be compelled to find our true vocation and live it fully no matter where our lives unfold. I urge everyone to see this film and discover that we all have the power and agency to overcome the darkest of evils. You will be changed. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/05/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Heart of Nuba

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Movie Info

Synopsis American doctor Tom Catena dedicates his life to treating patients in the Nuba Mountains of war-torn Sudan.
Director
Kenneth A. Carlson
Producer
Kenneth A. Carlson, Jeff Werner
Distributor
Abramorama
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 6, 2018, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 10, 2018
Box Office (Gross USA)
$37.3K
Runtime
1h 25m
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