A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: God Sleeps in Rwanda

Date Viewed: 3/21/06

Details:

Written & directed by: Kimberlee Acquaro & Stacy Sherman

Score: 0

The Review: This documentary is a series of interviews with several Rwandan women who survived the genocide in the mid-1990's, atrocities dominated by the ethnic cleansing of Tutsi by Hutu extremists. These massacres resulted in the death of many men and boys, leaving an unbalanced population dominated by women, many of whom were also not only indirect victims, but also direct -- albeit still living -- victims of rape and abuse. Complicating recovery in the wake of these civil wars is the widespread level of HIV infection and AIDS.

Contrary to the expected negative context (God sleeps and is thus ignoring the genocide and consequences), the title comes from an older Rwandan folktale, and is a positive commentary on the beauty of the countryside (for God chooses to sleep here).

One of the 2005 Academy Award nominees for documentary short feature; others included Death of Kevin Carter, Note of Triumph, and Mushroom Club.

(8-Apr-06)

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