As a result of civil war that has engulfed the Sudan since 1956, the Dinka people in the southern part of the country experience famine and the threat of attack on an all-too-frequent basis.

Waiting chronicles the remarkable dignity of a people in a truly desperate situation. The people of the town of Alek have run out of food. The grain crop has been consumed, and enemies have stolen their livestock. Desperate, the people appeal for hunger relief. One-hundred-and-forty-five tons of grain are air-dropped into Alek, but there is a problem: without enough relief workers to distribute the food properly, there might be a riot. For a week, as the food sits on the ground, everyone -- the starving Dinkas and the well-fed aid workers -- waits for relief.

Waiting is the story of that week.

Director Marie-Claude Harvey took her camera to Alek, hoping that her documentary could somehow help the Dinkas. The result is a powerful and moving documentary that challenges us to examine how we respond to countries in crisis.

"A disturbing and magnificent film."—Societe Radio-Canada