“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sometimes in April is a film recounting the events that occurred during the Rwanda Genocide in April of 1994. Throughout this site we dissect the film into key issues and compare it to the actual events in history. We have researched the events, people, and locations visited in the movie and matched them to events, people, and locations in Rwanda during 1994. We have examined the ideologies during that time both in Rwanda and in the United States. The background of the director was taken into account as to better understand what he intended to portray in the film. This helped us understand the subtext of the film. We also looked at the theories of media effects and evaluated how they shape the movie message.
Map of Rwanda ( Graphic Maps, 2012)
“What looks very much like genocide has been taking place in Rwanda. People are pulled from cars and buses, ordered to show their identity papers and then killed on the spot if they belong to the wrong ethnic group. Thousands of bodies have already piled up, and the killing continues despite the presence of 1,700 United Nations peacekeepers. The wider horror is that the world has few ways of responding effectively when violence within a nation leads to massacres and the breakdown of civil order.” (“Cold choices in,” 1994)
The beginning of Rwandan separation began in 1933 when Belgium required all Rwandans to classify themselves as Tutsi, Hutu, or Twa. They defined the classifications of those groups by the size of their nose and the color of their eyes. The Belgians thought the Tutsi were more “white” looking and believed that for that reason they were the superior group and should be the rulers. They filled positions of authority with Tutsi and discriminated against the Hutu and Twa. The Hutu were denied higher education, land ownership and positions in the government.
Identity Card of Rwandan Citizen (Des Forges)
The New York Times explained how the identity cards eventually contributed to the genocide that occurred between the Hutu and the Tutsi.
“Meantime, it is apparent that identity cards originally issued by Belgian colonial administrators decades ago have become the equivalent of the Star of David in Hitler’s Reich. As Raymond Bonner has reported in The Times, there is no certain physical distinction between Hutu and Tutsi, who speak the same language and who have extensively intermarried. The cards can be a death certificate when militia members pull passengers from cars and buses. Abolishing these cards seems an essential preliminary to ending genocidal killings fomented by vicious radio broadcasts.” (“France helps in,” 1994)
The following is important dates that led up to 1994 when the occurrences above took place. The background of contributing occurrences and a timeline similar to this one is found at the beginning of the film. The information at the beginning of the film is accurate.
December 9, 1948
The United Nations passes a resolution which both defines genocide and declares it a crime under international law.
1950’s
Resentment grows among the Hutu, who constitute about 85% of Rwanda’s population. The Tutsi’s anger also grows because they want independence. Since the Belgians sensed rebellion, they decided to put the Hutu in charge in order to decrease Tutsi power.
1959
Hutu begin to rebel against both the Tutsi and the Belgians.
“The Hutu, who control the central Government, regard Belgium as an enemy not only because it was the former colonial ruler of Rwanda but also because they believe Brussels covertly supports the Tutsi-led rebel group, which has its main office in Belgium. The Tutsi filled many bureaucratic posts under Belgian and German colonial administrations.” (McFadden, 1994)
1961
Hutu overthrew the Tutsi and the monarchy is put to an end.
1962
Hutu declared an independent republic with a Hutu president. Many Tutsi were killed during the transition.
1988
The RPF (Rwandan Patriotic Front) is created in Uganda.
1989
World coffee prices plummet. This significantly affects Rwanda’s economy because coffee was one of its major cash crops.
1990
The RPF invade Rwanda, starting a civil war.
1991
A new constitution allows for multiple political parties.
July 8, 1993
RTLM (Radio Télévison des Milles Collines) begins broadcasting and spreading hate.
August 3, 1993
The Arusha Accords are agreed upon, opening government positions to both Hutu and Tutsi.
Sometimes In April 