Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in and Through Film: The Case Study of Rwanda

Abstract

In “Peacebuilding and Reconciliation in and through Film,” Johnston examines how films can bear witness to what happened during and after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Discussing several films in some detail, he claims that film can transform the perspectives of both international and local audiences, as well as contribute to the development of a new film industry. Johnston mentions one of the pioneering figures in the rapidly evolving Rwandan film industry, Eric Kabera, the founder and president of the Rwanda Film Centre. Kabera directed films such as Keepers of Memory (2004), which focuses on those survivors who look after genocide memorials and more recently Intore (2014), which highlights the work of musicians and dancers in building peace for both the present and future of Rwanda.