Review: Right off the top, I must warn any potential viewer that this is a very tough film to watch. It is both graphically and emotional disturbing and definitely will make you take a long look both at your own humanity and your nation's humanity. I for one am a huge fan of PBS' Frontline documentaries and I certainly have to rank this as one of their best films. It manages to capture both a historical retelling of the Rwandan genocide and emotional appeal to question our own motives. The film closes with a great line from Carl Wilkins (the sole American who remained behind to help protect anyone he could), “we must realize that we have potential for great good and great evil within all of us.” That is the essence of this documentary. Everyone is indicted and no one is indicted completely. It sounds like an impossible and completely idealistic way to look at any genocide, but in many ways it is factual. Gaining interviews with aid workers, politicians, rebel leaders, victims and even those who admit to killing innocent civilians creates an account that is informatively deep and even emotionally deeper. With that in mind, realize the stories here are not light hearted and almost everyone of them will give you pause to think. To hear how Wilkins appealed directly to the Prime Minister of Rwanda (who many believe to be the orchestrator of the entire genocide) to save an orphanage (and succeed), or to hear how a villager felt almost “possessed” as he helped slaughter hundreds seeking refuge in a local church is both frightening and eye opening. I for one am convinced now, more than ever of the need for individual acts of kindness and support rather than trusting or relying on governmental bodies to bring aid. Though I've held this opinion before, Ghosts of Rwanda seemingly proves it as you see the failures of both the U.S. and the U.N. while individual heroes save practically thousands by taking risks. I'm talking more about the subject than the film itself because in reality the subject is what controls this documentary. Director Greg Barker doesn't truly set out with an agenda here, but rather tries to capture the stories and experiences of those who were in any way connected to the 1994 genocide. This of course meant a fearless use of images most people probably don't see on the nightly newscast. If Hotel Rwanda was too intense for you, then I wouldn’t certainly persuade you to see Ghosts of Rwanda. However, if you are even remotely interested in an event that is arguably as diabolical as the Holocaust, then this is a great documentary to experience. Review by Matthew Abshire Informative: 5- The information is indepth and accurate, but the real lessons are found in the dozens of stories people share. Entertainment: 5- Entertaining is the wrong word to use here, but definitely don't expect to be bored. Technical: 4- Very up front and journalistic in nature, but solid none the less. Overall: 5- Definitely not for the feint of heart, but a documentary everyone should witness.
Ghosts of Rwanda
Format: DVD Year: 2004 Running Time: 120 Min Distributor: PBS Producer: Greg Barker and Julia Powell Director: Greg Barker Date Reviewed: 5-13-2007 Story: A decade after the genocide in which Hutu extremists killed some 800,000 Rwandans, PBS's Frontline takes a hard look at how such an atrocity occurred. The program examines the social, political and diplomatic conditions at the time of the genocide, provides firsthand accounts of the situation through interviews with officials, relief workers, U.N. peacekeepers, diplomats and survivors, and explores whether a similar situation could occur again (NetFlix).