DVD Mini Review - Beyond the Gates
Michael Caton Jones' terrific film Beyond the Gates (called Shooting Dogs in other countries) was released in many places a year or two ago. However, it just got a limited release earlier this year in the US. And that is a shame. But you can now catch it on DVD (as I did).
The film is about the Rwanda genocide in 1994. The story is specifically about a school where many Tutsis hid from the Hutus who were out to kill them. The school is run by a priest named Christopher (John Hurt). Christopher feels a great deal of responsibility for these people. He is joined in his quest to help them by an idealist young teacher named Joe (Hugh Dancy).
Caton-Jones' direction is sharp, as is the screenplay by David Wolstencroft. The film was shot in Rwanda and it feels very authentic. However, I will say that the film is very graphic and there is a lot of carnage to be seen. But I admire the filmmakers for taking that route and not softening the blow of seeing this. Hurt, as always, is marvelous. Dancy is good as the shaken teacher. And Claire-Hope Ashitey is very good a Marie - one of Joe's students who really looks up to him. Oh, I should say that a number of people who worked on the film were survivors of the tragedy (and lost many family members).
By the end of the film I was in tears. How could one not be? Beyond the Gates is a good companion piece to Hotel Rwanda and Some Time in April. It should be seen by as many people as possible. Films like these are important because they remind us of the evil that humankind can inflict on each other. Let's hope that one day all of the bloodshed will stop.
The film is about the Rwanda genocide in 1994. The story is specifically about a school where many Tutsis hid from the Hutus who were out to kill them. The school is run by a priest named Christopher (John Hurt). Christopher feels a great deal of responsibility for these people. He is joined in his quest to help them by an idealist young teacher named Joe (Hugh Dancy).
Caton-Jones' direction is sharp, as is the screenplay by David Wolstencroft. The film was shot in Rwanda and it feels very authentic. However, I will say that the film is very graphic and there is a lot of carnage to be seen. But I admire the filmmakers for taking that route and not softening the blow of seeing this. Hurt, as always, is marvelous. Dancy is good as the shaken teacher. And Claire-Hope Ashitey is very good a Marie - one of Joe's students who really looks up to him. Oh, I should say that a number of people who worked on the film were survivors of the tragedy (and lost many family members).
By the end of the film I was in tears. How could one not be? Beyond the Gates is a good companion piece to Hotel Rwanda and Some Time in April. It should be seen by as many people as possible. Films like these are important because they remind us of the evil that humankind can inflict on each other. Let's hope that one day all of the bloodshed will stop.
posted by Film Fanatic | 8:17 PM
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