Need help finding a certain movie

A few months ago I watched part of a movie on HBO. I can't recall the name, but it seemed very interesting. I saw maybe 10 minutes of it (I was preparing to leave a hotel). All I remember was that it was about a young man (in his late teens) from Africa who migrates to the US and struggles to gain citizenship. If I remember correctly, he was fleeing from warfare. The only scene I remember vividly was a conversation between the young man and two rough-looking white classmates. The African tells them about a time he confronted a lion. At first the other two don't believe him. But then he describes how he felt as he watched the lion kill his brother.


Movies it is not:

God Grew Tired of Us
Life of Pi
Life and Become

 

I briefly remember watching a movie about migrant in America so this might be a long shot, but is it called 'God grew tired of us'?

 

I'd have to watch that one -it's a documentary, and I don't remember the movie I saw being a documentary; but I could be wrong.

 

Are you sure he came to America?

Live and Become (2005) - This takes place mostly in Israel. (it's also in swedish... so if you didn't have to read subtitles, no point in reading further lol)

Plot:
In 1980 the black Falashas in Ethiopia are recognised as genuine Jews. In turn they are secretly carried to Israel. The day before the transport the son of a Jewish mother dies. In his place and with his name (Schlomo) she takes a Christian 9-year-old boy. Upon arrival this second mother dies. Schlomo is adopted by a good family but remains depressed until he secretly sends a letter to his real mother. From the beginning he experiences large and small racist difficulties. In his teens he and Sarah fall in love. Her father is an extreme racist.

 

I'm certain it was in North America (the North-East I think, possibly New York).

 

Life of Pi? At the end (not spoiling) two Japanese(?) guys are questioning him about where he came from.

And he with a tiger a lot, not a lion tho

 

No it was definitely not Life of Pi