BACK STAGE

SASA MAJUMA | Friday April 4, 2008 00:00

There are actually two movies called Shake Hands with the Devil: the documentary made in 2004 and released in 2005; and the feature, also made by Canadians, filmed in Rwanda and Halifax in 2006 and released in September 2007 at the Toronto Film Festival. In the 2007 acted version, which is half an hour longer than the documentary, Roy Dupuis plays Lt-Gen Romo Dallaire, the Canadian commander of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force, the blue berets, in Rwanda in 1994. Both are based on the book by Dallaire, Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda.

Oddly, in advertising the opening on March 27, DITSWHANELO used the poster from the new film and not the older documentary, but I wonder how many people noticed that? Instead the audience was overwhelmed by the horror of the genocide revealed in the documentary. Perhaps, it was not new to them? Some people spoke from the floor who had been in Rwanda in 1994. Others would be knowledgeable through various avenues, or have seen the feature film Hotel Rwanda (2004) (Mmegi, August 5, 2005). Nick Nolte played the general in it. More might have read the books: Bone Woman (2004) by Clea Msindo Koff; A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali by Gil Courtemanche; or even Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire's autobiography. But, scenes of genocide, no matter how often watched, will always be upsetting.

Alice Mogwe introduced the documentary by reading from the preface of the book; 'How do I still believe in God ... ? Because in Rwanda I shook hands with the Devil'. In 2004, ten years after the genocide, Dallaire returned to Rwanda. He says that, 'I wish I could turn back ... now going back into hell'.

Then the documentary traces some of the events leading up to the tragedy that began in April 1994. Dallaire knew very little about Rwanda. He thought he was going to paradise on earth. On November 1, 1993 he was flying the UN flag in a demilitarised zone. He had 60 staff. A peace agreement had been signed at Arusha, Tanzania, ending three years of prior civil disturbances. There were many other serious episodes of violence over the course of Rwanda and Burundi's rule by Belgium and after independence in July 1962. Dallaire quickly learnt that a youth wing was being stirred up by extremists to hate the Tutsis and that he would have to rely totally on his own resources and not expect much from the UN.

Dallaire was given a small contingent of troops from a few countries, but the most experienced was a core of Belgian soldiers. After 10 of them were killed, Belgium withdrew the others on April 19. To evacuate their civilians from Rwanda at least 2,500 more troops came inform the United States of America (US), United Kingdom (UK) and France, but their focus was only on saving their own, not helping the situation in Rwanda. When they left Dallaire had only 300 men, and no support from the UN, the Roman Catholic Church (or until Uganda intervened, really from anywhere). His was a hollow showcase of a UN presence that meant nothing as the killing raged around him for many months. Mark Doyle, a BBC journalist, stayed to cover the catastrophe. Rwanda was not a priority for the UN. He tried to change that without success. Dallaire was emasculated. The powerful Minority, or First World, has written off Africa, as the troubles in Dafur gives witness to. Yet, in the last four years the US has spent one trillion dollars yearly on its war in Iraq.

Oddly, at 4:11 am the next day after watching the film, I began getting SMSes from a young Rwandan, 'I have met the man who killed my parents. What should I do? I am trying to fight what I feel inside. But it is like every day my wounds are renewed. I keep on seeing what took place that night. After all these years I still see him and his horrible deeds towards my family.

I want to confront him, but people say he will harm me. What should I do? Forgive? I can't. I still feel so much hate, anger and pain; it is just that I can't kill. I keep on seeing that night of April 1994. He beat my mother to death. He still looks the same way he looked when I was 8-years old. I wish I could lose my memory'.

Dallaire was burnt out. Back home in Canada he became depressed, then suicidal. He said, 'I could not stand the loudness of the silence'. It took him years to recover and then three more to write his memoir.

The documentary 'Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire' is 90 minutes long. The director is Peter Raymont to a script by Lt. Gen. Romo Dallaire, based on his book, and written with Major Brent Beardsley. The cinematographer is John Westheuser; edited by Michle Hozer while the music is by Mark Korven. This is not a film to be taken lightly.
sasa_majuma@yahoo.co.uk