“Hotel Rwanda”, 2004
Director: Terry George
This historical drama tells the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who housed over a thousand Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda.
Starring: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Cara Seymour, Joaquin Phoenix, Jean Reno, Fana Mokoena, David O'Hara, Tony Kgoroge, Desmond Dube;
Production year: 2004;
Genre: drama, war, biography, history;
MPAA rating: pg13;
Duration: 121 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 8,1;
More information about the film “Hotel Rwanda” on the website imdb.com
“Sometimes in April”, 2005
Director: Raoul Peck
A television film that dramatizes the Rwandan genocide, focusing on the personal story of a Hutu soldier as he comes to terms with the horrors he's seen and his role in the violence.
Starring: Idris Elba, Carole Karemera, Pamela Nomvete, Oris Erhuero, Fraser James, Abby Mikiibi Nkaaga, Cleophas Kabasita, Noah Emmerich, Debra Winger, Peninah Abatoni;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: drama, war, history;
Age: 18+;
Duration: 140 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
“Shooting Dogs”, 2005
Director: Michael Caton-Jones
Based on true events, this film focuses on the experience of a European teacher and a priest who are caught in the conflict and face moral decisions at a Kigali school during the 1994 genocide.
Starring: John Hurt, Hugh Dancy, Dominique Horwitz, Louis Mahoney, Nicola Walker, Steve Toussaint, David Gyasi, Susan Nalwoga, Victor Power, Jack Pierce;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: drama, war, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 115 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Shooting Dogs” on the website imdb.com
“Shake Hands with the Devil”, 2007
Director: Roger Spottiswoode
An adaptation of Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire's harrowing autobiographical account of his time as the force commander of UNAMIR (United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda) during the genocide.
Starring: Roy Dupuis, Owen Sejake, James Gallanders, Michel Ange Nzojibwami, Michel Mongeau, Robert Lalonde, John Sibi-Okumu, Akin Omotoso, Deborah Kara Unger, Tom McCamus;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: drama, war, history;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 112 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,6;
More information about the film “Shake Hands with the Devil” on the website imdb.com
“Kinyarwanda”, 2011
Director: Alrick Brown
This drama interweaves six different tales that together form a single narrative about the Rwandan genocide, focusing on the resilience and reconciliation of the Rwandan people.
Starring: Cassandra Freeman, Edouard Bamporiki, Cleophas Kabasita, Mazimpaka Kennedy, Hadidja Zaninka, Hassan Kabera, Abdallah Uwimana, Marc Gwamaka, Mutsari Jean, Kena Onyenjekwe;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: drama, melodrama, war, history;
Duration: 100 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “Kinyarwanda” on the website imdb.com
“Black Earth Rising”, 2018
Director: Hugo Blick
A BBC television drama about a legal investigator who was rescued from the Rwandan genocide as a child facing her past when she takes on war crime cases.
Starring: John Goodman, Michaela Coel, Noma Dumezweni, Lucian Msamati, Tyrone Huggins, Tamara Tunie, Nicholas Beveney, Treva Etienne, Malou Coindreau, Emmanuel Imani;
Production year: 2018;
Genre: thriller;
Rating: IMDB: 7,5;
More information about the film “Black Earth Rising” on the website imdb.com
These films provide a range of perspectives on the events and aftermath of the Rwandan genocide and have been used as educational tools to raise awareness about the consequences of hatred and the importance of peacebuilding.
In conclusion, films about Rwanda are more than mere narratives; they are potent tools of remembrance and channels for education. Whether through the harrowing vistas of “Hotel Rwanda” or the inspiring beats of “Africa United,” they collectively contribute to understanding an era marked by unspeakable tragedy and a resilient spirit. They serve to remind us not only of the horrors that can arise from human division but also of the possibility for reconciliation and redemption. These films carry the weight of history, yet also bear witness to the indomitable strength of the human will to overcome and strive towards a future defined not by past atrocities but by shared humanity and hope. Through the eyes of filmmakers, Rwanda's stories continue to resonate and challenge audiences worldwide to remember and reflect.
