USA/France 2009, 80 min, English, Kinyarwanda, Heb sub
Felicita lost her seven children, including the baby she carried on her back. A neighbor from the Hutu tribe murdered them in front of her. This massacre happened during the 100 days in 1994 when the Hutus were ordered to liquidate all of the minority Tutsi tribe, even if these were family or just neighbors. (Both tribes share the same religion and language and many are related to each other).
Felicita was spared because she was a Hutu whereas her husband, and therefore her children, were Tutsi. She now faces the Gacaca, the national tribunal set up by the authorities in Rwanda in an attempt to create peace. If Felicita will be reconciled, her family's slayer, whom she knows well, will be released from prison in ten years instead of 25. But for her to agree to this, he must admit to his crimes and ask for forgiveness.
11,000 of these tribunals try to do the impossible throughout Rwanda. Director Anne Aghion followed Felicita and Opraiza, lonely and grieving, for ten years. They are now asked to make peace with their murdering neighbors and allow them to return to their families, right in front of their doorsteps.
Director & Producer : Anne Aghion
Cinematography: James Kakwerere, Linette Frewin, Claire Bailly du Bois, Mathieu Hagnery
Editor: Nadia Ben Rachid
Previous Festivals:
Nominee, 2009 Gotham Independent Film Award™ Winner, Human Rights Watch 2009 Nestor Almendros Award Official Selection, Festival de Cannes 2009
