Shake Hands with the Devil (2007)

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Director:

Roger Spottiswoode

Writers:

Roméo Dallaire (book)
Michael Donovan (writer)

Release Date:

28 September 2007 (Canada)

Genre:

History

Tagline:

A true story of compassion, courage and hope

Plot:

A film adaptation of the Romeo Dallaire autobiography Shake Hands with the Devil.

Plot Keywords:

United Nations | Genocide | Rwanda | Betrayal | Violence

Awards:

6 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Roy Dupuis	...	General Romeo Dallaire
Owen Sejake	...	Ghanian General Henry Anyidoho (as Owen Lebakeng Sejake)
James Gallanders	...	Major Brent Beardsley
Michel Mongeau	...	Luc Marchal
Robert Lalonde	...	Général Maurice Baril
John Sibi-Okumu	...	Booh-Booh
Akin Omotoso	...	Paul Kagame
Tom McCamus	...	Phil Lancaster
John Matshikiza	...	President Habyarimana
Jean-Hugues Anglade	...	Bernard Kouchner
Strini Pillai	...	Bangladeshi Commander
Craig Hourqueble	...	Willem
Kenneth Khambula	...	Major Kamenzi
Patrice Faye	...	Colonel Poncet
Chris Thorne	...	American Ambassador

MPAA:

Rated R for some disturbing violent images and brief strong language.

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Canada:18A | Singapore:NC-16 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company:

Barna-Alper Productions

Trivia:

Roy Dupuis collaborated significantly with Roméo Dallaire while researching this film and the two became friends.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: At the international news report on the massacres, the modern Rwandan flag is depicted on the screen, which wasn't introduced until 2001, whereas the news report was from 1993, during the massacre.

Quotes:

General Romeo Dallaire: We're going to stay to bear witness to what the rest of the world doesn't want to see.

Genocide Is When There Are Cargo Trains, Concentration Camps, Gas Chambers

In the end of 1993, the Canadian General Romeo Dallaire (Roy Dupuis) is assigned to lead the United Nation troops in Rwanda. In 1994, when the genocide of the Tutsis by the Hutus begins, General Dallaire gives his best effort to help the poor black people in Rwanda, inclusive negotiating with the Tutsi rebels, the Hutu army and the Interhamwe militia. However, he fights against bureaucracy and lack of interest from the United Nations and witnesses the West World ignoring and turning back any sort of support, inclusive USA opposing in the security council of UN to any type of help.

The story of the genocide in Rwanda was first seen in the cinema through the magnificent "Hotel Rwanda" (2004), telling the life of Paul Rusesabagina, one anonymous hero and manager of the Milles Collines Hotel of Kigali; then, in "Shooting Dogs" (2005) that tells the story of the Catholic priest Christopher and the idealistic English teacher Joe Connor; then in "Un Dimanche à Kigali" (2006) focused in the romance of a Canadian journalist and a Tutsi waitress. Now these movies are complemented by the less emotive "Shake Hands with the Devil" that tells the same story, but now through the eyes and heart of the Canadian General Romeo Dallaire trapped in the indifference of the UN. It is amazing the line of General Dallaire when he says that for the UN, "genocide is when there are cargo trains, concentration camps, and gas chambers". I imagine how frustrated this general might have been seeing the slaughter of defenseless human beings having to follows bureaucratic and political orders from his superiors. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "História de um Massacre" ("History of a Massacre")