His House

In the end, “His House” reveals that Bol and Rial’s haunted house is a manifestation of their own guilt and tragedy. Throughout the film, the house’s ghostly inhabitants and the apeth monster symbolize their unresolved grief and the terrible price paid for their survival. Bol, believing he sacrificed Nyagak by pushing her into the ocean to keep her alive long enough to reach safety, is haunted by this guilt, which draws the monster—the night witch—closer. The apeth, rooted in Dinka mythology, is a creature that “eats” or steals from its victims in a spiritual sense. When Bol sacrifices himself and cuts his arm, it’s a symbolic act of having “eaten” Nyagak’s life, representing the enormity of his crime and guilt. The monster’s promise to return Nyagak is a cruel trick and a reflection of how their past actions haunt them, preventing peace.

As Rial tells Bol a story of a man who built a house with stolen goods—building their new home with Nyagak’s life—she underscores that they are living in a house built on theft and tragedy. Their true belonging can’t be found in a house, but in accepting their past and their grief. The film’s ending remains ambiguous about their future, yet it signifies a moment of acceptance: Rial chooses to let go of the hope of reuniting with Nyagak, while Bol accepts that he cannot escape his guilt. When they hold hands, the ghosts fade away, suggesting they are finally confronting their trauma and finding a fragile sense of belonging with each other. The haunting is not just about the house or monsters, but about their own truths, and by facing them, they start to heal—holding on to each other as their real refuge.

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 at 08:58