We Come as Friends (2014)

Overview
"We Come as Friends" is a critically well-known 2014 documentary film directed by veteran Austrian filmmaker Hubert Sauper. The motion picture uses an incisive and deeply layered perspective on neocolonialism in Africa in the 21st century. Sauper spotlights the upheaval and strife in newly established South Sudan, highlighting the bitter paradox of self-reliance in a nation fraught with external exploitation and internal conflict.

Plot and Presentation
The film opens with Sauper and his co-pilot flying a tiny, self-made aeroplane towards South Sudan. The modest airplane works as a sign of a shrinking world where remote places are easily accessible, causing a nexus of interactions, both favorable and negative. Sauper subtly utilizes the airplane to underscore the prevalent presence and impact of foreign powers and multinational corporations in Africa's most recent country.

Through the lens of his cam, Sauper explores the consequences of Sudan's division into 2 nations - Sudan and South Sudan. He showcases the substantial scramble for resources, money, and power which has stimulated corruption and violence. The motion picture aptly demonstrates the negative impact of colonial tradition and neocolonial pursuit by countries such as China and the United States.

Styles and Perspectives
"We Come as Friends" uses critical insight into neo-imperialism masked as globalisation. The movie covers various styles consisting of exploitative profiteering from oil and other resources, loss of indigenous cultural identity and homelands, manipulation of political structures, and cultural destruction under the garb of development and advancement.

Sauper does a commendable job of providing multiple point of views and truths. Interviews ranging from American evangelical missionaries to Chinese oil workers, local tribal leaders to political leaders and local citizens, offer a mosaic of viewpoints and stories. Using indigenous music and regional choreography in the film further enriches the cultural depiction.

Effect and Reception
The film delivers a raw and powerful criticism of neocolonialism, unmasking the vested interests of foreign powers in South Sudan. It challenges the audience to reconsider the perception of development by showing the grim side of globalisation in Africa. The truths of destructive capitalist greed, power characteristics, and their influence on cultural identities are laid bare.

"We Come as Friends" was gotten favorably by critics and viewers alike for its authentic representation and insightful narrative. The film won the Special Jury Award at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival and had a mainly positive reception at the Berlin Film Festival, sealing its place as one of the striking documentaries of the year.

Conclusion
"We Come as Friends" is a powerful exposé on the persistent neocolonial exploitation and problems in South Sudan. Sauper crafts a lively yet heartbreaking tapestry of cultural erosion, exploitation, and resistance. It is a poignant tip of the ongoing battles of the marginalized people in South Sudan who yearn for real independence and self-determination. The film advocates for a more gentle and equitable world order by highlighting the grim consequences of uncontrolled capitalistic invasions.

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