In a Kigali, Rwanda marketplace, local adolescent boy Munyurangabo and his friend, Sangwa, swipe a machete from a vendor and hit the road together. Each young man is haunted by the ghosts of past experiences. Munyurangabo lost both parents to the Rwandan genocide and now embarks on a quest for swift justice; Sangwa left home years prior and longs to return. So begins director Lee Isaac Chung's feature Liberation Day. The two young men at the heart of the story commence a journey to Sangwa's
home, where they remain for several days, but they must soon confront the reality of the racial and tribal differences between them: one is a Hutu, the other a Tutsi, and as Sangwa's parents remind their son, members of the two groups are never supposed to consort with one another -- making the boys' friendship highly inadvisable. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
Munyurangabo may be a simple film with a straightforward message, but the details and conflicts Chung captures give it a reality that cannot be denied.
Munyurangabo, a simple, naturalistic parable about a journey to the countryside by two young men, reflects on the chances of peace and reconciliation for survivors of Rwanda's bloody recent past.
Munyurangabo uses the fine-grained techniques of cinematic neorealism to illuminate the psychological and emotional landscape of a still-traumatized place.
Compared to "Munyurangabo," admirable films like Terry George's "Hotel Rwanda" or Michael Caton-Jones' "Shooting Dogs" seem like so much heavy-handed melodrama.
If you can get past the mercurial changes in emotions and the slow pace you'll find a film that has a lot to say about war and peace, hatred and love, revenge and reconciliation
In order to survive, one can't hold onto innocence nor wash away the bloody, tattooed existence of the past. And even with this grim reality, there is some semblance of promise. Not everything corrupt stays that way.
In "Munyurangabo," Ngabo(Jeff Rutagengwa) is mad at his friend Sangwa(Eric Ndorunkundiye) for spending their bus money, forcing them to hitchhike instead from Kigali. It turns out the money was for a dress shirt to impress his parents who he has not seen in three years. His mother(Narcicia Nyirabucyeye) is very
happy to see her son but his father(Jean Marie Vianney Nkurikiyinka) is more than angry, saying that he wish his son had never been born. Things cool down as times are tough and the labor of the two men is needed in the fields. Regardless, Ngabo wants to move on because they have a man to kill, attested to by the machete he is carrying in his backpack.
"Munyurangabo" is a compelling and deliberately paced look at Rwanda fifteen years after the genocide. It is interesting to see a new generation coming of age and how they are haunted by the mistakes and crimes of their parents' generation. While some seek revenge, others are left wondering what role their parents may have played in the atrocities. At the same time, the healing process that is necessary for the country to move forward is starting to unfold.
August 20, 2010
Walter M.
Super Reviewer
A simple and beautiful film. The production is a bit crude, but the plot is so rich it doesn?t really matter. Well written, poignantly directed. Very well acted, believably told and striking images. Very memorable.
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