Rwanda

In Rwanda when all this began, white people ran away. The world itself turned the other way.

Mara, I'm sorry, but I still think it's not a good idea.

I promise…

Only this one…

The première and that's it.

Marco, hurry up!

We're late.

The audience is already in. Come on!

Go!

Is that it?

Almost…

You ready?

Wait!

Who set his mike?!

Go, go, go!

This is it!

Lights on.

It's ok!

Let's start guys!

Silence!

Picture it's a movie.

Picture the true story you're about to listen to is a movie.

A movie set during the most terrifying, systematic and the quickest genocide the human being has ever known,

in a small country halfway round the world.

Rwanda?

Where the hell is Rwanda?

Mara, this is the first and the last one!

We met some witnesses, we collected their story, we set this show up…

But it's only because we promised it!

I don't get you…

"We are not interested in that", "It is not consistent with our season",

"The topic is not suitable for our audience": that's what they told us!

I've made my decision.

I promise!

Only this one…

The première and that's it.

Aren't you coming?!

It's up to you in 5 minutes!

I'll hear you from the interphone.

1 minute and I'll be there.

Picture it's a movie.

A country where things were fine.

So fine that the small country was named the "African Switzerland", up to a devastating economic crisis.

Why? Speculation, corruption, geopolitical interests, globalization, indiscriminate resource exploitation,

but for common people the latter were too complex.

It was then easier to say: "It's the others', the outsiders' fault."

The other in Rwanda had always had a name: Tutsi, the minority social group equalling 10% of the population,

in contrast with Hutu, the majority one accounting for 90%.

Living together for Hutu and Tutsi was complex but possible, until the night of the 6th of April 1994,

when the President of the Republic, Juvenal Habyarimana, a Hutu, was killed in an airstrike.

The radio announced: "Tutsi rebels and all the Tutsi supporting them are to blame".

For Hutu extremists there was only one thing to do: solving Tutsi's problem once and for all,

by killing every one of them.

What's the difference between Hutu and Tutsi?

Two ethnicities or tribes?

Not really.

Some centuries ago, Hutu were poorer farmers and Tutsi richer shepherds.

If your business was good, you being a Hutu could become a Tutsi.

One fine day, the white man came to Rwanda.

"Divide et impera": If you want to rule, then create divisions.

This way, colonizers imposed to each Rwandan citizen his first ID paper,

including a non-existent word in local language.

Such word was "race".

Are you Hutu? You stay Hutu.

Are you Tutsi? You stay Tutsi.

A small piece of paper was enough to transform two social classes into two races.

Forever.

The true story you're about to listen to tries to explain

what happened exactly during the most terrifying genocide in the world.

In this story, I will be Augustin, a Hutu young factory worker.

Mara will be Cécile, a Tutsi primary school teacher.

An affair being only seemingly far in space and time, which is terribly and frightfully current though.

The 6th of April 1994, 8:26 P.M.

The Dessault Falcon 9XR-NN approaches the runway.

It suddenly turns into a fire ball.

It has just been hit by two surface-to-surface missiles.

The contrasts, the envy, and the power struggle

in a population the colonizers dismembered…

Cécile, we must hurry up! We have to leave before they barricade the streets!

Daddy, Igipupe too!

We can't bring everything!

This stuff will remain here!

We can't bring everything!

This stuff will remain here!

Sophie, my love!

Don't be sad!

Igipupe is coming with us!

Daddy was joking.

You'll keep it tight into your hand!

Take it!

Here it is!

Hurry up, Sophie! We must have the injection before leaving!

And… Fly!

My Darling, you're so good!

I'll take the insulin in the fridge.

Now let's do our… Little pinch!

It's official, my Hutu brothers! Our beloved President of the Republic died in an airstrike.

According to reliable sources, Tutsi rebels are to blame together with all Tutsi civilians:

men, women and children alike.

The Tutsi betrayed our people and are getting ready to kill us, but they did not reckon with our courage!

Done!

Sophie, you're so brave!

We will do what we would have had to do long time ago: Killing them all!

I've already called Maurice in Butare.

We're staying at his place until dust will settle…

Go out on the streets and create a barrier, my brothers! If a Tutsi crosses it, leave his head there!

Maurice provided me with these!

Forged passports?

They'll let us pass!

Trust me.

I'm scared, Paul…

Come here.

Everything will be alright!

Mummy, where are we going?

To daddy's friend, Sophie!

How long before we arrive?

Another while. Sleep now!

Line up, you assholes!

Stop your cars and get out!

Get all out!

What the hell are they doing?

Keep calm! Wait for me here…

I'll go to talk to them.

No! Paul, look at me!

You can't leave me here alone with Sophie!

Keep calm… Don't worry!

Get all out of that fucking car!

You killed our President, this time you won't escape!

We'll send you back to Ethiopia in the shortest way…

The river!

Leave the engine on and wait for me here.

I'm with you…

Daddy!

Daddy'll be right back!

I promise!

You can go.

Everything will be alright!

Do as I taught you!

Paul!

Stop that Tutsi whore!

Kill that Tutsi bitch!

Mummy!

Hey, this way!

Come on! It's not far away.

They planned it long time ago.

One week ago they received a cargo full of weapons at Masoro's hill.

The ones who escaped are hiding here.

Are you wounded?

Sorry?!

Are you wounded? No, I'm not.

Find yourself a place to sleep.

Have you got some insulin for my child?

No, I'm sorry. No insulin!

Keep it for your child!

Sophie! You must stay here!

You must stay here! Mummy'll be right back.

I'll take your medicine…

And I'll be right back! Ok?

Please let me go! Let me go! No!

Sophie…

Mara, you're next!

Encouraged by RTLM, Radio Télévision Libre des Mille Collines, Hutu Power Radio,

thousands of militiamen started this butchery.

To date, this is the fastest, the most terrifying and forgotten genocide in human history.

104 days and 1 million deaths.

1 million! Can you imagine it?

In Rwanda, 10,000 people died per day, which is 400 bodies per hour, 7 bodies per minute.

One person was killed every 10 seconds.

On the 11th of September 2001, New York, USA…

In the Twin Towers attack, 3,000 people died and the whole world stopped.

On the 6th of April 1994: in Rwanda 3 Twin Towers fell, on a daily basis, 24/7.

But the world kept moving on as easily.

"Cécile, we must hurry up! We have to leave before they barricade the streets!"

Paul said to me, his hand on my shoulder.

"We can't bring everything! This stuff will remain here!"

It was our child's favourite toy…

Igipupe was a gift to Sophie from her grandpa, when she was only three.

Sophie and Igipupe are inseparable: a young girl and her soft animal toy.

That night, Paul kept packing our cases…

I was sitting in front of the mirror, unable to think.

The radio! That's what I remember!

RTLM, the Hutu Power Radio was screaming:

"It's official, my Hutu brothers! Our President of the Republic died in an airstrike.

According to reliable sources, Tutsi rebels are to blame together with all Tutsi civilians…"

Two rice bags and a bean one -

Good morning, Augustin! How are you?

Two rice bags and a bean one, as usual?

Augustin, are you ok?

Rice and beans as usual?

Papers!

Yes, as usual.

If I see a Tutsi, rest assured he's not escaping from here!

How can we recognize a Tutsi from a Hutu?

How can we distinguish between a good man and a cockroach?

How can we help our friends listening to us?

Maybe those who are at the barriers right now and listen to us live?

Your papers!

There are many methods. Height for instance.

Tutsi are tall, but not only…

For instance, the roach often has a marked dental diastema.