SHAKE HANDS WITH THE DEVIL (2007, DIRECTED BY ROGER SPOTTISWOODE)
Wednesday December 18th, 2019| 14.00-17.00, Laboratory of Anthropological Research (Rm 318, 2nd Floor, Glass Building) | Coordination: Nasia Karatzia with the collaboration of Katerina Rozakou
As part of the course "Doing good? Anthropological Perspectives of Humanitarianism" students have planned a film screening, followed by a discussion regarding the Tutsi genocide in Rwanda in 1994. Drawing on excerpts from the film where the involvement of the UN (or lack thereof) is quite visible, we will discuss a historical overview of the events. The purpose of the discussion is to reflect on the historicity as well as the fluidity and manipulability of the concepts of “crisis” and “genocide”, as well as to the UN’s role as a key institution that expresses dominant western discourses. We will finally discuss the dilemmas that arise when advocates of the idea of “maintaining world peace and security” are confronted with the circumstantiality of the value of human life.
The movie “Shake Hands with the Devil” (2007, directed by Roger Spottiswoode) tells the story of General Romeo Dallaire, who is appointed head of the United Nations peacekeeping mission in Rwanda in 1993, shortly before the massacre of the Tutsi ethnic group began. The mission aims to oversee compliance with the newly established peace treaty between the Tutsi rebels and the Hutu-led Rwandan government. On April 6, 1994, President Juvénal Habyarimana's plane crashes and the army takes over state leadership. This incident marks the beginning of one of the most violent moments in modern human history, the genocide of the Tutsi and moderate Hutu, which resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands. Romeo then decides to continue the role of mediating between the Tutsi rebels and the Hutu army, while being confronted by the UN's indifference and refusal to send any help.
