Shake Hands with the Devil (2007)

Shake Hands with the Devil: Directed by Roger Spottiswoode. With Roy Dupuis, Owen Sejake, James Gallanders, Michel Ange Nzojibwami. The story of General Romeo Dallaire’s frustrated efforts to stop the madness of the Rwandan Genocide, despite the complete indifference of his superiors.

“This is lesson 2, after lesson 1 (Hotel Rwanda) on the history of a country I know very little about. But that does not matter. Rwanda in 1994 was a stage on which we witnessed the triumph of the dark side of humanity, and the failure of a world body called UN.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs a film, u0026#39;Shake Hands with the Devilu0026#39; was not rated as good as u0026#39;Hotel Rwandau0026#39; by the film critics. I tend to agree with this assessment. However, it was shot on location in Rwanda with many locals participating in the film. The acting in films was reasonably well done and the overall story telling convincing.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe film moved me enough to make me ponder other scenarios: what if General Dallaire took things into his own hands and started firing his weapons, instead of just passively observing the killing and rape? And what if the UN had a change of heart and decided to get further involved instead of backing out? How many lives could have been saved, and how that would have changed the Rwanda as we know it now? u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIn short, this film makes me think. And for this reason alone it is well worth my time.”