AllMovie

Sleeping Rough is the first feature film by Dutch director Eugenie Jansen. The story focuses on Majok, a young Sudanese immigrant who comes illegally to Holland seeking a safe environment and better wages. Fearing that he'll be found out by the authorities in the big city, Majok heads to the countryside to sleep in the cow pastures which remind him of home. It is here that he meets up with Jakob, an 80-year-old farmer who has been lonely and bitter since his wife passed away. Against all odds, these two form a bond of friendship which eventually changes both their lives for the better despite a few bumps along the way. Using documentary techniques and employing two unprofessional lead actors, Sleeping Rough achieves a great deal of realism, addressing many of Holland's immigration problems while remaining a film about friendship with lots of heart.