A gripping and emotional story, Shooting Dogs brings into vivid focus two men's struggle for survival when caught up in one of the most brutal genocides of the 20th century, the 1994 Rwandan tragedy.
John Hurt plays Christopher, a priest who forges a friendship with Joe (Hugh Dancy), a young teacher. Together, they have to confront the limits of their courage as they decide whether to stay or leave in the face of escalating violence in Rwanda. The film explores the powerful dilemma of peace-keepers caught up in a dangerous world, where they feel powerless to act effectively - an exceptionally timely and resonant story.
“Making Shooting Dogs constituted a tremendous communion of healing for a populace still devastated by this horrific tragedy. At the same time, the film looks to the future as much as to the past, imploring the global community to avoid doing too little, too late, again. In the end, this is a film about hope.” - Toronto International Film Festival