A man flees his ravaged country with his wife and daughter, attempting to escape the chaotic mob of angry, machine gun-armed men outside his car. His loved ones are violently forced out of the car, pinned to the floor face down, and a machete rises. The first minute of Beautifully Broken is an adrenaline-rush, packed with frightening images of war-torn Rwanda in 1994. This does not feel like a film, rather it resembles a prelude to a docudrama exposing the atrocities of the Rwandan genocide.
BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN SET IN RWANDAN GENOCIDE
Beautifully Broken is not a docudrama, nor is it a re-telling of the bloody massacre of the Tutsi tribe by the Hutu tribe that occurred twenty-four years ago in Rwanda. It is a faith-based film about keeping hope alive in the most dire circumstances. Director Eric Welch has brought to life a true story of three families whose lives become intertwined on the torturous path towards redemption and reconciliation.
A Riveting True Story
Welch has very compelling material from which to draw. These three families, through the power of faith, combat the unbelievable adversity they are forced to endure. However, in this reviewer’s view, the filmmaking doesn’t give us the opportunity to really emotionally connect to these fascinating characters and their plights. The numerous shots and excessive cuts during scenes undermine the gravity and tension that needs to be present for full impact. Eric Welch’s filmmaking style and his background primarily as a music video and commercial director, lends itself nicely to create the frenzied atmosphere of Rwanda, but doesn’t allow us to fully engage in the quieter moments when characters are simply talking to each other.
For this writer, the most successful of the three storylines is that of the prisoner’s family as it feels the most immediate and urgent. We sense the profound struggle of the young farmer who must pretend to fight for the Hutu tribe so that his wife and young daughter are not killed. Sibulele Gcilitshanais is especially touching and layered in her portrayal of the wife and mother who must stay strong for her daughter while her husband is put in jail for his fateful decision during the war. We experience her sadness and longing for her husband but her strength comes through when she reassures her daughter that she will see her father again. However--and again from this writer’s point of view-- the scenes involving the American family storyline don’t quite do justice to the traumatic true story they are dramatizing. We witness the struggle of two parents (played by Scott William Winters and Caitlin Nicol-Thomas) trying to overcome the sudden rebelliousness of their previously well-adjusted daughter. We observe their daughter (Emily Hahn) wrestling with a dreadful secret, but we are partially removed emotionally since everything is spelled out for us and some of the dialogue comes across as heavy-handed.
Hope is crucial for us in times of extreme stress and Beautifully Broken is successful in conveying the importance of faith and forgiveness and this film would certainly appeal to faith-based audiences.
For those looking for another Hotel Rwanda, this film might not be your cup of tea.
SOMEWHAT RECOMMENDED
Director-Eric Welch
Writers-Brad Allen, Chuck Howard, Mark E. McCann, Martin Michael, Eric Welch
Composers-Vince Emmett and Geoff Koch
Cinematographer- James King
Editor -Peter Devaney Flanagan
Visit the Beautifully Broken website for more information.
About the Author:
Rachel Errington is a New York-based actor, producer and writer, originally from Los Angeles. She recently produced and performed in “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” a short film headed for the festival circuit. Rachel graduated from Northwestern with a degree in Theatre. Favorite roles include Beatrice from “A View from the Bridge,” and the title roles in “Medea” and “Miss Julie.” You can learn more about Rachel at www.rachelerrington.com.
