Beyond the Gates (2005)

A Catholic priest and an English teacher get stranded in a school in Kigali during the 1994 Rwandan genocide.

Director:

Michael Caton-Jones

Writers:

David Wolstencroft (screenplay), Richard Alwyn (story)

Stars:

John Hurt, Hugh Dancy, Dominique Horwitz

1 win & 3 nominations.

Cast

Credited 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
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tom Shepherd	...	Belgian Soldier

Storyline

In April 1994, after the airplane of the Hutu President of Rwanda is shot down, the Hutu militias slaughter the Tutsi population. In the Ecole Technique Officielle, the Catholic priest Christopher and the idealistic English teacher Joe Connor lodge two thousand five hundred Rwandans refugees, under the protection of the Belgian U.N. force, and under siege by Hutu militia. When the Tutsi refugees are abandoned by the U.N., they are murdered by the extremist militia.

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Drama | History | War

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, disturbing images and language

Details

Official Sites:

BBC Films Official site

Country:

UK Germany

Language:

English French

Release Date:

31 March 2006 (UK)

Also Known As:

Beyond the Gates

Filming Locations:

Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

CrossDay Productions Ltd., ARTE, BBC Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

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

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Goofs

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

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Quotes

Christopher: I'll see to that after Mass.
Joe Connor: Mass?
Christopher: I'm a priest in a Catholic country, Joe. This is what I do.
Joe Connor: Yeah, sure. But do you think it is the best time for that?
Christopher: In times of stress, people need to commune with God.
Joe Connor: I think maybe they'd prefer some food, water, a spot of reassurance.
Christopher: Well, come to Mass-get all three on the same ticket.

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Crazy Credits

Before the credits we are shown photographs of Rwanda genocide survivors who served as on set crew members. Next to each picture is text stating how many loved ones they lost.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: 300/The Namesake/I Think I Love My Wife/Beyond the Gates/The Host (2007)

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Soundtracks

Nari mw'isi

User Reviews

This is the best film I have seen in a good many years.

I haven't seen a film that evoked such emotion in so long I had forgotten that it was even possible for a film to do so. Even in film school there weren't many that left me with such a memorable impression. I saw it at the Toronto International Film Festival and I actually left the theatre shaking. I had the distinct pleasure of talking to Mr. Caton-Jones after the screening and it seemed to me that this film was a real cathartic piece for him as well.

For anybody that doesn't remember or wasn't around during the actual genocide and doesn't remember the news stories about it, it doesn't really matter....this film shows more than what they would have showed on CNN of CBC or any of the major news networks. This goes beyond those stories and tells you what really happened....even if it is only a small glimpse at the bigger picture.

I saw Hotel Rwanda and I thought it was a brilliant film, but I also thought that it was a tad bit "Americanised", which is fine I suppose, it gave the public what it usually wants...a good story but with a bit of a love story at it's centre which I thought detracted from the story of the genocide. This one has a definite European or even Canadian film-making feel to it. Hotel Rwanda also didn't show you everything...this is not a spoiler but a warning: be prepared to see everything, Caton-Jones doesn't leave anything to the imagination.

I was also disappointed though I suppose not all that surprised when I heard that this film had gotten a distributor in every country but the US. All you Americans reading this...appeal to whatever power you have to to get this film screened in a theatre near you. You are missing out on not only a cinematic gem but a little piece of history. I for one cannot wait to see this film in theatres again soon.