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"A Heavy Abacus" by The Joy Formidable (FilmAid version)

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Published on Jun 6, 2012

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FilmAid presents an inspirational music video, based on the hit single 'A Heavy Abacus' by indie rock band The Joy Formidable, and directed by award-winning filmmakers Paola Mendoza and Topaz Adizes.

Paola and Topaz spent a month volunteering as Visiting Teaching Artists for FilmAid in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Northern Kenya. While in Kakuma, they were inspired by the strength of the people they met and decided to make a video starring young Sudanese refugees. Paola and Topaz - in collaboration with the community - shot this gorgeous video in just three days, using one camera, two light reflectors, and an iPhone.

Credits
'A Heavy Abacus' by the Joy Formidable

Directed by Paola Mendoza and Topaz Adizes

Cinematography by Topaz Adizes
Edited by Topaz Adizes & Jeremiah Zagar
2nd Unit Director Rodrigues Kennedy
2nd Unit DP Dennis Munene
Assistant Director Moses Lujang
2nd Assistant director Marwan Sadik
Community Liaisons Manahil Hassan & Bakhita Achemi

Special Thanks: The Joy Formidable, Canvasback Music, EMI Music Publishing, The Juba Community, Kakuma Refugee Camp, UNHCR, Anthony Muteru, John Wandera, Andrew Otemba, Dennis Munene, Victor Ombonya, Paul Kuchal, John Tutlow, Stella Suge and Liz Manne.

© 2012 FilmAid. All rights reserved.

---

'A Heavy Abacus'
- song lyrics

Here we are bending feet
In the dark before dreamless sleep
Cloaks that spot, that shiver, that breeze
Throws you in the dark

Happiness it won't last long
And this child behind stores it all
The failed man's curse and the cost
Of nonchalance

Thank you sly watchful gene
A plastic life up my sleeve
If you've followed this far you've realised nothing

Now your world is here
Watch it disappear

Abacus haunting me
Abacus watching me

And it all plays out
And it always comes around
The message fades but the mess prevails
You reckless thing leaving you in our hands

Abacus haunting me
Abacus watching me

All we have is this chance called memory
---
"A Heavy Abacus" as written by Rhiannon Bryan, Rhydian Davies
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

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Top Comments

  • DutchinKorea

    Amazing video. Beautiful people. Thank you for this video and music!

    · 19

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  • Neal A. Gray

    After watching this I realize just how spoiled I am watching this on my 4K$ iMac when the people in this video don't even know what Youtube is........

    · 15

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All Comments (38)

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  • MycketKar

    Of all the songs, this is the most inspirational.. It's fitting for this video.

    ·

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  • Pawan Chaudhray

    This World Refugee Day, have a look at life inside Northern Kenya's Kakuma Refugee Camp

    ·

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  • lizmanne

    It's a chalkboard in one of the camp's classrooms.

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    in reply to aw574 (Show the comment)
  • aw574

    2:56 Is that a wall mounted HDTV in the background ??

    ·

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  • Dan Hallas

    Jesus Christ Fenton!

    ·

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  • spokenout24

    That was beautiful :) the song fit perfect with what is going on there too :) thank you for making this :)

    ·

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  • jn11419

    i bet the same idiots that made this video are bitching about america being ruined by the "white man" and how they were brought here against their will yada yada blah blah....the ladder doesnt look so good now does it???

    ·

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  • aljee20

    amazing! makes me very grateful

    ·

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  • Joy Chep

    Wow! This is amazing. I am part of Kakuma Refugee fraternity and I am proudly serving them with dignity and respect. May God bless Kakuma always.

    · 5

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  • Lina Kpa

    i agree with your opinion!

    ·

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    in reply to Neal A. Gray (Show the comment)
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