The screening of yet another Kinyarwanda movie – Grey Matter – was Tuesday’s highlight. Organised by Goethe Institute, the movie started at 6:57pm and ended at 9:00pm. It was screened at Ishyo Hall in Kacyiru, a Kigali suburb.

Viewers at the screening of the movie. The New Times / Andrew.

Grey Matter is a deeply inspiring movie (with English subtitles) covering the terror that took over Rwanda during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. You can’t help but be truly moved by this tale of one survivor’s struggle with post traumatic stress. You can’t help but watch in sorrow as the motorcycle helmet wearing Yvan’s trauma makes him scared to leave the house. The horrifying acts including the brutal torture of his parents haunt him day by day. In an effort to help pay for their brother’s medical bills, Yvan’s sister turns to prostitution.

Kivu Ruhorahoza, who was also present at the screening, directed this 2011 production, which runs for 103 minutes. “Initially, I did this film for myself and then for Rwandans because this is what really happened,” said Kivu. “Trauma doesn’t only surface in its victims; you have a victim’s trauma and a perpetrator’s trauma and this is what I wanted to show in the film,” explained Kivu.

The movie premiered at the 2011 TriBeCa Film Festival in New York where it scooped Best Actor Award and Jury Special Mention for Best Emerging Director. Other honours included a Jury Special Award at the Khouribga African Film Festival, an Ecumenical Jury Special Mention at the Warsaw International Film Festival for the Best Director Award.

The movie that stars Ruth Nirere Shanel, Herve Kimenyi and Sami Bizimana among others has a unique plot and emphasizes the impact of the Genocide in a more open way.

By Andrew Kazibwe, The New Times