Desmond Tutu Documentary 'The Foolishness of God' Opens FIFDA in Paris

The 16th Festival International de Films de la Diaspora Africaine (FIFDA) in Paris opened on September 4, 2026, with the European premiere of 'The Foolishness of God – A Forgiveness Journey with Desmond Tutu', directed by American filmmaker Karen Hayes. The documentary, produced by Ubuntu Motion Pictures, traces Tutu's lifelong advocacy for forgiveness as a tool against crimes against humanity, including his work in South Africa, Rwanda, and the United States. Hayes, who accompanied Tutu for fifteen years, explores the intimate origins of his radical commitment to reconciliation. The film features interviews with survivors, including Cynthia Njeru, and highlights Tutu's personal regrets, such as his failure to reconcile with his father before his death. Hayes, an Afro-American activist against apartheid since the 1980s, describes how her encounter with Tutu transformed her worldview, particularly after traveling with him to Rwanda shortly after the genocide, where he urged forgiveness. The documentary also addresses the absence of a national truth and reconciliation commission in the United States, which Hayes sees as a missed opportunity. Tutu, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 and died in 2021 at age 90, is remembered for his leadership in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. The film includes appearances by his wife, Leah Tutu, and their four children, who have continued his legacy. The screening was followed by a debate with the director.