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.

---

Plot Keywords:

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

---

Genres:

Drama | History | War

---

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

Judge Arusha: May I ask, why did you make what must have been a difficult decision to come to Arusha to testify in this tribunal?
Valentine: I saw that this man did and I felt responsible to testify about this man's betrayal of the people who I entrusted to him. When a man leads assassins, he is also an assassin.

---

Connections

Featured in Making 'Sometimes in April' (2005)

---

Soundtracks

"Sikutaki Tena"
Written by Dataz
Performed by Dataz and Soggy Doggy Hunter

User Reviews

Powerful, but wanting.

I became interested in the Rwanda genocide after viewing PBS's broadcast "Ghosts of Rwanda" (http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/ghosts/) and reading Lt. Gen. Roméo Dallaire's book "Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda". Both (particularly Dallaire's work) effected me so deeply that I was pleased when first "Sometimes in April" and later "Hotel Rwanda" came to the screen, so that the Rwanda tragedy would achieve greater attention. But I am still waiting for a definitive screen presentation of the genocide, one that shows its full evil, one that allows no one responsible to escape, one that underlines heroism in a season in hell, and one that scars the viewer so greatly the the phrase "never again" has true meaning.

"Sometimes in April" is laudable in that the genocide is depicted in individual human terms. It allows us to know both victims and predators. But it fails in explaining how very human characters became murderers. And it glides over the complicity of the French, the failure of the UN to support its mission, and the failure of the West (not just the US) to intervene.

I recommend this movie as a starting point. I found it far more poignant than "Hotel Rwanda". But I am still waiting for movie justice to be done to this tragedy.