Sometimes in April

Amazon.com

A clear-eyed look at the Rwandan genocide is offered in Sometimes in April, a frank take on the 1994 slaughter that claimed upwards of 800,000 lives. Some overlap with Hotel Rwanda is inevitable, and this HBO feature does have similarities, but without the strong suspenseful storyline of Hotel. Its protagonist (the strong Idris Elba, from The Wire) pieces together the past tragedy from the perspective of a decade-later war-crimes tribunal, where his brother is on trial. It's hard to know which is less bearable--the depiction of atrocities, such as mass murder at a girls school, or the second-guessing of the international community, which largely stood by while the horror was unfolding. (Like Hotel Rwanda, this film zeroes in on the U.S. government's distinction that "acts of genocide" occurred in Rwanda rather than "genocide," a Joseph Heller-like absurdity.) The plain style of director Raoul Peck, shooting on location in Rwanda, works for the subject; his film Lumumba was also a direct, blunt account of a tragedy in Africa. The approach doesn't work as well in the U.S. scenes, which feature Debra Winger as a concerned official; these just look clumsy. But the subject itself remains worthy of close attention. --Robert Horton

Customer Reviews:

"Sometimes in April is the book-Hotel Rwanda is a chapter" .......2007-08-27

A couple of years ago, Paul Rusesbagnia (sp?), the gentleman whose story
inspired "Hotel Rwanda" spoke at a local college. Afterwards at the reception, I asked him what he thought of this film in comparison to his biopic "Hotel Rwanada" and he replied in his usual eloquent fashion, "Sometimes in April is the book-Hotel Rwanda is a Chapter."

Anyone who has seen both films to compare will agree.

Essentially, this is a slightly fictionalized tale of two brothers during the Rwanda massacre that began in April 1994 (thus the title). The evil brother agitates tribal genocide over the radio and the good brother risks his life to shelter victims of the madness that follows. In comparison to Hotel Rwanda (and not taking anything away from that film), this does a better job of explaining the backstory of what led to the Rwanada massacre for those who aren't familiar.

In either case, this is a fine (albeit occasionally heart-wrenching-as it should be) story of the dangers of listening to demagogues and man's inhumanity to man. The scene with the little girls pleading for their lives in the church will truly change your life, as well as this movie itself. Watch this film and heed it's warning.

Excellent, bone-chilling movie........2007-08-25

This true "reality" movie is a vivid portrayal of a devestating time in a former peaceful,beautiful land and people. It should remind us that genocide can happen to any group anywhere. If we are not watchful, history will once again be repeated while good people look the other way.

Powerful and moving film.......2007-08-23

Having spent a month in Rwanda this past year, and having a decent background on the genocide, I thought that the film did an excellent job of capturing Rwanda (in terms of appropriately using Kinyarwanda language) and in capturing the horrors of the genocide without dwelling too much on the blood and gore. The scenes that jumped from the past to the present were a nice way to release the tension of the killings while still continuing the storyline. I have been told by friends in Rwanda that Sometimes in April is a more accurate account of the genocide than Hotel Rwanda, but both are worth watching.

Never again?.......2007-08-15

Butchers everywhere (and yet a part of the human spirit is redeemed). A memorable film about, yet again, another late 20th-century genocide.

Beats the pants of Hotel Rwanda.......2007-06-16

Hotel Rwanda leaves you feeling upbeat, like "Thank god, someone did something." This movie makes you feel like shit. You end up disgusted with humanity. It is realistic, and there is no bright spot at the end of the tunnel.

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