Shooting Dogs (2005)

Calificación de los usuarios:

7.8/10   

Director:

Michael Caton-Jones

Escritores:

David Wolstencroft (screenplay)
Richard Alwyn (story) ...

Fecha de Lanzamiento:

8 diciembre 2005 (Portugal)

Género:

Drama | Historia

Frase comercial:

1994, 800,000 killed in 100 days. Would you risk your life to make a difference?

Plot:

In April 1994, after the airplane of the Hutu President of Rwanda is shot down, the Hutu militias slaughter the Tutsi population...

Plot Keywords:

Militia | Priest | Refugee | Teacher | Catholic Priest

Premios:

1 win & 3 nominations

Comentarios de los usuarios:

"A Bunch of Dead Africans" or: God Makes the Color, But the Color Doesn't Make You God

Reparto

John Hurt	...	Christopher
Hugh Dancy	...	Joe Connor
Dominique Horwitz	...	Capitaine Charles Delon
Louis Mahoney	...	Sibomana
Nicola Walker	...	Rachel
Steve Toussaint	...	Roland
David Gyasi	...	François
Susan Nalwoga	...	Edda
Victor Power	...	Julius
Jack Pierce	...	Mark
Musa Kasonka Jr.	...	Boniface
Kizito Ssentamu Kayiira	...	Pierre
Clare-Hope Ashitey	...	Marie

También conocida como:

Beyond the Gates (USA)
Shooting Dogs (Argentina) (cable TV title) [es]

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, disturbing images and language.

Duración:

115 min

País:

UK | Alemania

Idioma:

Inglés | Francés

Color:

Color

Relación de Aspecto:

2.35 : 1

Sonido:

Dolby Digital

Clasificación:

Brazil:18 | Ireland:15A | Netherlands:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-15 | Portugal:M/12 | USA:R | Germany:12 | USA:Unrated (DVD) | Australia:MA | Argentina:16 | UK:15

Locaciones de Filmación:

Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey, England, UK

Compañía:

CrossDay Productions Ltd.

Trivialidades:

The firearm props used were real weapons, though they had been disabled. The extras were given belts of live ammunition to carry around in several scenes.

Errores:

Errores Reales: Throughout the movie, the Belgian Captain wears the insignia of a Sergeant (three white lines).

Conexiones de Película:

Apareció en "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2007-03-10)" (2007)

Banda de Sonido:

Baptism Song

"A Bunch of Dead Africans" or: God Makes the Color, But the Color Doesn't Make You God

I remember sometime about two summers ago when I first saw Hotel Rawanda. I laid there on the floor in my living room, watching the television with a strange sense of detachment. This was, despite all of it's critical accolades and obvious technical quality, it was a unfortunately cold and unemotional experience.

On the flipside, Shooting Dogs has shown the horrific events of April 1994 in the light which they deserve. Just as films like Schindler's List or Band of Brothers have depicted real-life horror with the respect and realism needed, this film does the same.

The gritty and more intelligent approach of this film is largely due to director Michael Caton-Jones, I believe. These days, Caton-Jones is known more his director-for-hire work on Basic Instinct 2, but I believe a quick view of his filmography will reveal higher qualities. His general style in this instance is as effective as it is unobtrusive, which is particularly appreciated in any case. In fact, this may have worked against him, judging from the suspicious lack of praise directed towards him.

Still, this is not quite a film made for people to sit around heaping praise upon it. To be honest, this picture is too violent, honest, realistic, and perhaps too religious to reach the widespread audience it deserves.

Roger Ebert once spoke of the western tendency to use the 'benevolent foreigner' as a way of seeing into the lives of inscrutable natives. Perhaps this film is guilty of that approach, and I might be inclined to condemn it for just that reason if not for the superb acting put forth. John Hurt and Hugh Dancy share their screen time in a more or less equal fashion, each taking their character through both a spiritual (and a decidedly less spiritual) journey. Hurt, especially, lives up to long history of flawless performances, as well as his often-apt surname. Claire-Hope Ashitey (Children of Men) is a newcomer, but she proves quite impressive in her first role. Certainly, she is one to watch.

Browsing through comments on the IMDb, I came across one poster who referred to the likeliness of this film to elicit what he called "The crocodile tears of middle class hypocrites". If I could have said it better myself, I would have. But keep in mind as you watch - you are not to just cry over these events, you are to feel anger, responsibility, and yes, even compassion.

05.28.07