Shooting Dogs (2005)

User Rating:

7.8/10   

Director:

Michael Caton-Jones

Writers:

David Wolstencroft (screenplay)
Richard Alwyn (story) ...

Release Date:

8 December 2005 (Portugal)

Genre:

Drama | History

Tagline:

1994, 800,000 killed in 100 days. Would you risk your life to make a difference?

Plot:

In April 1994, after the airplane of the Hutu President of Rwanda is shot down, the Hutu militias slaughter the Tutsi population...

Plot Keywords:

Militia | Priest | Refugee | Teacher | Catholic Priest

Awards:

1 win & 3 nominations

Cast

John Hurt	...	Christopher
Hugh Dancy	...	Joe Connor
Dominique Horwitz	...	Capitaine Charles Delon
Louis Mahoney	...	Sibomana
Nicola Walker	...	Rachel
Steve Toussaint	...	Roland
David Gyasi	...	François
Susan Nalwoga	...	Edda
Victor Power	...	Julius
Jack Pierce	...	Mark
Musa Kasonka Jr.	...	Boniface
Kizito Ssentamu Kayiira	...	Pierre
Clare-Hope Ashitey	...	Marie

Also Known As:

Beyond the Gates (USA)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, disturbing images and language.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

UK | Germany

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:18 | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-15 | Portugal:M/12 | USA:R | Germany:12 | USA:Unrated (DVD) | Australia:MA | Argentina:16 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey, England, UK

Company:

CrossDay Productions Ltd.

Trivia:

The characters are fictional but the events are not. Parts of the film were shot at Ecole Technique Officielle (ETO), a high school in Kigali, where the actual events took place. The title of the film comes from the fact that UN peacekeepers used to shoot local dogs that fed on the decomposing bodies of the genocide victims.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Throughout the movie, the Belgian Captain wears the insignia of a Sergeant (three white lines).

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-03-10)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Dufite imana ikomeye cyana

What a film!!

This film is worthy of all the plaudits that one can offer. it is not a film from a large Hollywood studio and thus will not merit for any Hollywood inspired praise. Nevertheless John Hurt performance is without doubt Oscar worthy . The film is factual without being inspired by the normal heartstrings of sanitised music which usually accompanies movies such as this. It is even superior to Hotel Rwanda which again was wonderful but takes the issue even further particularly as it applies to the so called civilised UN nations. If ever there was a need for a real UN this film exemplifies it. Camera work is excellent and acting right through the cast is credible and believable without having to employ any token players from the extensive list of TV actors and the like.The Belgian Officer is so real and his frustration there for all to see.

In summary a film that everyone should see and form an opinion.There is no hard pressed "hit you in the face" moralising, but one would have to be non human not to appreciate the essence of this story. 10/10