Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire Theatrical Release (Not Yet Available on DVD)

The decision by the United Nations to maintain only a minimal military presence in Rwanda in 1994 proved fatal for the native Tutsi people. As the UN floundered, some 800,000 Tutsis perished at the hands of powerful Hutu guerillas, who wreaked havoc on the country. A cinematic take on these calamitous events was provided by 2004's HOTEL RWANDA, which dramatized the story of a secret Tutsi refuge camp constructed by brave hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina. A much darker side to the tale unfolds in SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL, with filmmaker Peter Raymont constructing a fascinating documentary about Roméo Dallaire, the UN general in charge of the nominal UN military effort in Rwanda. Although drawing on footage from 1994, which depicts some horrific scenes of bloodshed, the most significant portion of Raymont's film sees Dallaire returning to Rwanda some 10 years after the atrocities occurred. Once there, he is given an unforgettable tour of the country, and explains how he tried, and failed, to coax the UN into providing him with enough soldiers to prevent the genocide which followed. A crestfallen man who appears to have a genuine love for Rwanda, Raymont closely follows Dallaire's memoir (entitled SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL: THE FAILURE OF HUMANITY IN RWANDA), leading to a highly sympathetic depiction of a once-great military man. Dallaire confesses that his post-Rwandan life has been littered with suicidal thoughts and generous doses of anti-depressants--clearly he still believes he could have prevented this terrible event from happening. Raymont's film is a compassionate, eye-opening summation of a life forever tainted by a hugely regrettable experience.

Shake Hands With the Devil: The Journey of Romeo Dallaire Reviews:

"[The film] is a respectful portrait of General Dallaire, now retired, who comes across as a thoughtful, resolute but profoundly shaken man, more philosopher than warrior..."-- Stephen Holden, New York Times

"Dallaire is not only the protagonist of SHAKE HANDS, he is a compelling reason to see it. A man of unmistakable honesty and integrity, a career soldier with a penchant for telling the truth..."-- Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times

"Dallaire himself is a fascinating figure..." -- John Wrathall, Sight and Sound

This is the only Peter Raymont video.

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