The Senegal River forms the national border between Mauritania and Senegal In 1989 war broke out between these countries along and around the river Both sides committed atrocities Senegalese filmmaker Alassane Diago was just a young child at the time Now he brings together his Senegalese and Mauritanian family all victims or witnesses of the bloodbath so they can talk in detail about their traumatic experiences He wants to find the truth and to bring about reconciliation Why did they slaughter each other and why were so many people deported Was there systemic racism involved under the white and Arab elite Was it a case of ethnic cleansing