Sometimes in April

2005

Sometimes in April

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95%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 6,021
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Movie Info

When the Hutu nationalists raised arms against their Tutsi countrymen in the African nation of Rwanda in April of 1994, the violent uprising marked the beginning of one of the darkest times in African history. Over the course of the next 100 days, brother would turn against brother, tearing families apart and resulting in the death of almost 800,000 people. Based on actual events that occurred during the uprising, Raoul Peck's affecting war drama tells the tale of two such brothers, whose differing loyalties found them on opposing sides of the conflict, and whose lives would never be the same following this tragic turn of events.
  • Rating:
    R
  • Genre:
    Drama, Television
  • Directed By:
    Raoul Peck
  • Written By:
    Raoul Peck
  • In Theaters:
     limited
  • On Disc/Streaming:
  • Runtime:
  • Studio:
    HBO Films

Cast

Idris Elba
as Augustin Muganza
Debra Winger
as Prudence Bushnell
Oris Erhuero
as Honore
Carole Karemara
as Jeanne
Pamela Nomvete
as Martine
Fraser James
as Xavier
Carole Karemera
as Jeanne
Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga
as Col. Bagosora
Michelle Rugema
as Anne-Marie
Noah Emmerich
as Lionel Quaid
Sonia Ntare
Arthur Yuhi Abia
as Yves Andre
Andrew Benon
as Father Munanira
Gloria Bugwiza
as Woman Refugee #2
Charles Bwanika
as DJ Max
Patty Hannock
as Lawyer
Isabelle Kabano
as Felicie
Kaya Kagimumukasa
as Agathe Uwilingiyimana
Chantal Karuunyi
as Woman Refugee #3
Dennis Kayonya
as Mathieu
Hubert Kounde
as Father Salomon
Assumpta Micho
as Mathilde
Juliana Muganza
as Anne-Marie's Friend #1
Nadine Munezero
as Venancia
Mazence Murara
as Judge
Chantal Mutanguha
as Schoolgirl
Maureen Mutesi
as Anne-Marie's Friend #2
Tega Mutimura
as Anne-Marie's Friend #3
Lyton Namburu
as Valerie
Abdallah Nassoro
as Albert
Ramadhan Nzikenera
as Officer Bagosora
André Ryumugabe
as Killing Farmer
Franck Karenze Semana
as Prosecutor
Ester Uwizeye
as Isa
Joseph Walugembe
as Alphonse
Bill Clinton
as Himself
Juvenal Habyarimana
as Himself
Brian Williams
as Himself
Prudence Bushnell
as Herself
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Critic Reviews for Sometimes in April

All Critics (3) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (3)

  • April was unsparing, without being gratuitous, in showing how horrific yet casual the violence was, and Idris Elba (The Wire) was stunning as a Rwandan officer who came to see the light too late to save his mixed-ethnicity family.

    Sep 10, 2018 | Full Review…

    James Poniewozik

    TIME Magazine
    Top Critic

  • Opts for a broader canvas [than Hotel Rwanda] both in time and space, exchanging a strong dramatic center for increased depth of detail and insight.

    Feb 11, 2006 | Rating: B+ | Full Review…

    Steven D. Greydanus

    Decent Films Guide

  • a powerful and effective piece of filmmaking. Full of sadness and a fair amount of anger [yet] not vitriolic.

    Mar 15, 2005 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review…

    Andrea Chase

    Killer Movie Reviews
View All Critic Reviews (3)

Audience Reviews for Sometimes in April

  • May 15, 2009
    I saw this heartbreaking tearjerker with Mathew. It's all about the devastating massacre in Rwanda in 1994. The saddest part in the whole film was when the girls at the Catholic school thought they were safe but then the Hutus came and cornered them in a room. "Separate yourselves into Hutu and Tutsi," they demanded. Then one of the girls spoke up and said, "We are sisters. We will stay together." So the Hutus opened fire and slaughtered them ALL. I think this drama is an important film so that we never let this kind of massacre happen again. The film was very emotional and had well put together scenic design. It lacked in the storyline in that I was a bit confused as it went back and forth between 2004 and 1994. The ending was a little confusing as well about what happened to Augustin's wife. I had closure at the end, but I was still confused a little bit about how she ended up where she was. This movie is similar to "Hotel Rwanda" but I think I might like "Sometimes in April" a bit better.
    Dannielle A Super Reviewer
  • Aug 18, 2007
    Graphic and touching depiction of the 1994 Rwandan tragedy.
    Ida K Super Reviewer
  • Apr 15, 2007
    This movie was packed full of sorrow that felt so different in a movie , It so hard to watch torture and the heartache they had to go through. Also I thought had alot of meaning of why they wanted to show so many events to capture each of the lives and the pain they had to strive for. So good though. I hate it how people hate watching movies with subtitles, but relieze is it brings out so much meaning of what the movie is trying to portray:)
    Moviestar M Super Reviewer
  • Apr 07, 2007
    Extremely important and powerful film, full of insight and anger. More explicit and centered than <i>Hotel Rwanda</i>. Less accomplished as a film per se, but extremely eye-opening for anyone who cares about history.
    Pedro P Super Reviewer
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