438 Days

(2019)

In the movie 438 Days, Swedish journalists Martin Schibbye and Johan Persson embark on a dangerous mission to report on the impact of the oil industry on the Ogaden region in Ethiopia. Taking great risks, they illegally cross the border from Somalia into Ethiopia on June 28th, 2011. However, their attempt does not go as planned, and they find themselves wounded and captured by the Ethiopian army just five days later.

Upon their capture, their initial reportage is silenced, but a new story begins to unfold. The movie explores the themes of lawlessness, propaganda, and global politics as the journalists are subjected to a Kafkaesque trial and ultimately sentenced to eleven years in prison on charges of terrorism. Inside the infamous Kality prison in Addis Ababa, Schibbye and Persson find themselves among other imprisoned journalists, writers, and politicians who refuse to submit to the dictatorship.

Every day becomes a fight for survival as they face deadly diseases, daily beatings, and oppression. They are stripped of their basic freedoms, including their freedom of speech and even their shoelaces. However, amidst the darkness, they strive to hold onto their identity and beliefs, valuing the freedom to determine who they are.

438 Days is a gripping and harrowing tale of endurance, resilience, and the pursuit of freedom. It offers an intimate look into the challenging and often brutal lives of imprisoned journalists, shedding light on the importance of a free press and the lengths individuals are willing to go to protect it.