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BEYOND
THE GATES
(aka
SHOOTING DOGS) |
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"John Gets Hurt In
Latest Rwanda Film" |
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Directed by Michael
Caton-Jones - Written by
David Wolstencroft
Starring John Hurt, Hugh
Dancy, Claire-Hope
Ashitey, Dominique
Horwitz
Distributed by IFC -
2006 - 115mins - Rated
NR |
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Richard Propes'
Review
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B- |
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1994. 800,000 killed in one day. Would you risk your life to make a
difference? |
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Winner of the grand
prize of $100,000 at the 2006 Heartland Film Festival, "Shooting Dogs"
is one of several recent films, most notably "Hotel Rwanda," to
attempt to remove the veil of denial surrounding the Rwandan genocide
of 1994.
Set inside the Ecole Technique Officialle, an actual Rwandan school
where 2,500 Rwandans were massacred shortly after the U.N. pulled out,
"Shooting Dogs" is based upon the true story of the events leading up
to the Ecole massacre including the efforts of a Catholic Priest,
Father Christopher (John Hurt) to protect the Rwandans, the refusal of
U.N. soldiers stationed at the school to protect them due to their
mandate to "monitor" peace, and the struggles of one schoolteacher
(Hugh Dancy) caught in the crossfire of courage and fear.
Sadly, one of the most significant weaknesses of "Shooting Dogs" lies
in the lack of focus on the Rwandans themselves. With the exception of
a young girl named Marie, the film largely places the Rwandans in the
one-dimensional role of victims of the militias or seemingly
subservient to their white protectors.
Despite this lack of depth for Rwandan characters, director Michael
Caton-Jones ("Basic Instinct 2") does take the story a step beyond
that offered in "Hotel Rwanda." While "Hotel Rwanda" offered an
intense, yet fairly sanitized look at the genocide, "Shooting Dogs" is
an often uncomfortably graphic look at the hate-filled violence that
plagued the nation in 1994. While we have intellectually known that
women and children were commonly hacked to death, Caton-Jones brings
these images and events to life with authenticity and still a degree
of sensitivity to the victims.
David Wolstencroft's script also doesn't hesitate to lay blame...not
just on the unconscionable response of the United Nations, but the
apathy of the United States and other nations in turning a blind eye
to the goings on in this far away nation. Even one reporter
acknowledges feeling less impacted by the events, largely because
these people are Africans and, therefore, "different."
As the priest struggling with his devotion to God, humanity and
himself, John Hurt captures powerfully the mixed emotions of a man
devoted to a humanity that suddenly seems to betray everything he
believes. Scenes of him offering mass even as the world around him
crumbles are filled with an almost eerie blend of spiritual
celebration and human resignation.
Dancy, on the other hand, seems clearly overwhelmed by the material at
hand and often is outshined by even the supporting Rwandan actors
around him, particularly Claire-Hope Ashitey as Marie. In the quieter,
more serene scenes Dancy is able to shine, however, when he is called
to rise to the occasion he falls into a one-note performance of
righteous rage.
Production design for "Shooting Dogs" is stellar, however, this is to
be expected as the film is set on the actual location of the events
that unfolded. Additionally, as the closing credits reveal, multiple
members of the Rwandan production crew are themselves survivors of the
genocide and, thus, their insight into production design, costuming
and the atmosphere itself creates an undeniably haunting look and feel
for the motion picture.
"Shooting Dogs" has been optioned for distribution by IFC under the
name "In Every Human Heart" with an actual U.S. release date pending.
The BBC production is reportedly already available on DVD in England.
"Shooting Dogs" is a more historically accurate, yet less
cinematically satisfying look at the events that unfolded in Rwanda
during 1994. In focusing his lens primarily on the lives of a white
priest and a white teacher, Caton-Jones has left behind the most
powerful stories of all...a world that ignored the plight of so many,
the ability of a nation to turn on its own and, perhaps most
powerfully, the ability of the Rwandan people who survived to speak
their truths so powerfully, honestly and eloquently.
"Shooting Dogs" continues at the Heartland Film Festival throughout
the week of October 23rd before its upcoming release on the arthouse
circuit in the near future. |
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© Written by Richard Propes -
Email Me! |
TC Candler's Comment
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Comment
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