No U-Turn

As a young man, celebrated Nigerian director Ike Nnaebue left Nigeria taking the route via Benin, Mali, and Mauritania to Morocco where he was forced to turn back, unable to reach Europe. In his first documentary, No U-Turn, he retraces the life-changing journey he made over 20 years ago. Along the way, he meets those who are taking the same trip and, through conversations with them, tries to understand what motivates young people today to expose themselves to the dangers of a passage into an uncertain future. Most are aware of the dangers of traveling undocumented by road, yet more and more are joining the ranks of those who take this risk, despite widely circulated images and terrifying testimonies found online of people that have been lured into slavery and bondage. Overlaid with a powerful poetic commentary, this self-reflective travelogue hints at the deep longing of an entire generation for a better life.

“Why is it unrealistic to dream of comfortable life in a continent of abundant resources?”- Ike Nnaebue, Director, NO U-TURN

“No U-Turn is a strong documentary that provides answers to questions around the motivations for migrating and experiences on the journey.”- Anietie Ewang, Researcher, Africa Division, Human Rights Watch

Photo ©JideAkinleminu

Screening as part of the Human Rights Watch Film Festival 2022

All cinemas are wheelchair accessible. Fully subtitles in English. Closed Captions and Audio Description available in English online and in-person. Assistive listening devices available for all screenings. Please visit individual venue websites or contact individual box offices for details and note that equipment is subject to availability. Post-screening discussions will offer CART (live transcription).