Starlight Movie Review: "Stateless" (Documentary Film)

Lies and Threats and Beheadings...and the UNHCR, Oh My!!! 

The documentary film "Stateless" is my first pick from this year’s African Diaspora International Film Festival (ADIFF). It is the latest project from Scott Erlinder, a Chicago-based filmmaker and his wife Ginger Scott-Erlinder.

(The creators of the documentary Stateless spoke April 12, 2013, at the Center for the Visual Arts after a screening of the film: Scott Erlinder, Mutuyimana Manzi, project editor Priya Yavagal, and Ginger Scott-Erlinder ’87. Courtesy of stories.illinoisstate.edu)

Now for a little background info: On different occasions during the last few years, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has deliberated on evoking the cessation clause which would essentially end the refugee status of Rwandans living in other countries. This has been at the behest of the Rwandan government which has been petitioning the UNHCR since 2002 to bring its citizens home. After several meetings, it was finally decided that as of June 2013, Rwandans who had left between 1959 and 1998 should return to their country of origin because the conditions of political instability and genocides which had caused them to flee were no longer in existence. 

The other side of the coin is that many refugees are unwilling to return to Rwanda due to the oppressive government now in place which uses violence and intimidation tactics to suppress opposition. This fear and unwillingness to return, combined with the cessation clause has now caused many Rwandan refugees to become “stateless”, which is where the film gets its name. Obviously, I am giving an abbreviated version of the story but the events surrounding this situation have been covered extensively in many online articles including this one.

Right now I know what you are thinking, documentaries are usually long and boring especially when they are about governments and the United Nations and dry subjects like that. Initially, I felt the same way and tried to come up with excuses not to watch this film. However, having now seen it I can tell you that your reluctance is completely unfounded, at least as relating to this particular documentary.

First and most importantly, the entire film including opening and closing credits will only take up a mere 46 minutes of your time. This is commendable. Secondly, the narration is done in a very engaging manner that is easy to understand. This combined with the footage will keep you riveted for the entire three-quarters of an hour. Thirdly, there are scenes that show beautiful streets, buildings and homes which portray a side of Africa that few in the West ever get to see. Fourthly, there are beautiful songs included in the movie soundtrack. All these make the documentary far easier to view than most, you will agree, no awkward silences and people crying in front of the camera as you might expect, considering the sad subject matter. Well that’s Africa for you; we always find a way to smile through the pain.

(Image courtesy of http://www.theeastafrican.co.ke)

But what made this film even more fascinating, is the amount of drama! You didn’t think there’d be drama involved in anything that wasn’t a reality show about housewives did you? Well, let me break down a few of the highlights:

• Scott Erlinder could not even set foot in Rwanda. Why? Because this might have endangered his life. You see, aside from the fact that his movie is calling BS on everything the current Rwandan government has said about how awesome things have now become in the country, another family member of his, his brother Peter, is hated by the same government for the work he did on the International Criminal Tribunal on Rwanda. Read more in this article. Drama!
• Scott made the movie by sending cameras to Rwandans and asking them to record footage and tell their own stories of the situation on ground. It was a very risky thing to do as is evidenced by the fact that one of the Rwandans who helped with gathering footage for the film (Mutuyimana Manzi, shown in the first picture above) is now living in the United States. Why? Because after his role was discovered, death threats were issued and attempts were made on his life. Scott and Ginger Erlinder then went into action and helped bring him into the US. Read more in this article. Drama!
• The film is quite graphic at times and there are pictures of people who have suffered some violent and barbaric form of violence, including beheadings. These are things which one would have hoped were part of a bygone era in African history but sadly, nooooo. Watch the entire film here. Drama!
• There are interviews with all sorts of credible sources, including former highly placed government officials of the current regime who are now living in exile! As the film asks, “What does that say about the Rwandan government?” There are also several accounts of people being brought up on false charges and imprisoned without trial and sometimes even murdered. The main victims here are usually members of the opposition and journalists who have written anything that is in any way critical of the government. Once again, weren't you hoping that as a continent we were past such shenanigans? Sigh. Watch the entire film here.

(Image courtesy of http://www.http://www.stoprwandacessation.org.info)

Sadly, this is the situation that most Rwandans are being forced to return to as a result of the UNHCR’s cessation clause. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I am thankful among other things, for the fact that both my adopted country and my country of origin are stable and peaceful by comparison to countries like Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. We should continue to pray for Africa in general and countries like these in particular, that they will get through these trying times and one day emerge strong nations with stable democratic governments which truly protect and serve their citizens. 

Until then, thanks to films like “Stateless”, we can stay informed about the plight of those less fortunate than we are, through no fault of their own. From me, this movie get's 10 stars and 10's across the board. It can be viewed online at nyadiff.org. Watch it now.

XOXO,

Starlight.