Sometimes in April (TV 2005)

Debra Winger, Oris Erhuero and Idris Elba star in this drama framed by the Rwandan genocide.

Director:

Raoul Peck

Writer:

Raoul Peck

Stars:

Idris Elba, Carole Karemera, Pamela Nomvete

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Idris Elba	...	Augustin
Carole Karemera	...	Jeanne
Pamela Nomvete	...	Martine
Oris Erhuero	...	Honoré
Fraser James	...	Xavier
Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga	...	Colonel Bagosora
Cleophas Kabasita	...	Valentine (as Cléophas Kabasiita)
Noah Emmerich	...	Lionel Quaid
Debra Winger	...	Prudence Bushnell
Peninah Abatoni	...	Woman Refugee #1
Ashani Alles	...	Prosecutor
Hope Azeda	...	Brigitte
Théogène Barasa	...	RAF Soldier #1
Dan Barlow	...	Belgian UN Soldier
Johannes Bausch	...	UN Officer #1

Storyline

Debra Winger, Oris Erhuero and Idris Elba star in this drama framed by the Rwandan genocide.

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Plot Keywords:

genocide | militia | rwanda | swahili | united nations mission | 

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Official Sites:

HBO [us]

Country:

France USA

Language:

English Kinyarwanda

Release Date:

19 March 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Als das Morden begann

Filming Locations:

Kigali, Rwanda

Company Credits

Production Co:

CINEFACTO, HBO Films, Velvet Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

140 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Quotes

Martine: [after she places flowers in the room where she and Victorine survived the massacre] ... And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil, For Thine is the kingdom, The power and the glory, Forever and ever. Amen.

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Connections

Features NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams (1970)

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Soundtracks

"Caribbean Queen"
Written by Billy Ocean and Vincent Alexander
Performed by Billy Ocean

User Reviews

Worthy

"Sometimes in April" attempts to tell the story of the 1994 wholesale slaughter of about 800,000 mostly innocent people during the 100 day national ordeal when the top blew off the powder keg which Rwanda, Africa had become. This film of civil war and genocide focuses on one man, Augustin (Elba), a Rwandan soldier and his extended family as it jumps around in location and time using his story to connect the dots. Although this HBO docudrama makes a satisfactory dramatic watch, is asks more questions than it answers and leaves one wondering, among other things, how it is possible that so many helpless and innocent people could be savagely murdered by their own countrymen. The historical background and Rwandan zeitgeist are not sufficiently presented but the brutality of the horrific genocide perpetrated by the Hutus upon the Tutsis and Hutu moderates, stands out in bold relief. Snapshots of US State Department bureaucrat Prudence Bushnell's (Winger) frustration with her own government's slow reaction to the crisis and the seemingly inadequate UN war crimes tribunals only hint at the problems associated with intervention in civil strife and prosecution of war criminals. Overall, the film is a worthwhile entertaining and educational watch with language, violence, sex/rape thoughtfully maintained at a level which would probably yield about a PG-13 rating. (B)