BASED ON A TRUE STORY
BISESERO : A DAUGHTER'S STORY
DOCUDRAMA FEATURE FILM
Synopsis.
In one of the darkest times in human history, tens of thousands of Tutsi in Northwest Rwanda turned to a respected local man to lead them in a desperate battle to survive a Genocide against their people.
This man – Aminadabu Birara – became their chosen leader. And for 17-year old Epiphanie, he was her father and hero.
For nearly 100 days of desperate fighting against superior, well-armed forces Epiphanie never left her father’s side. With his son Nzigira as his lieutenant, Birara lead the largest and most effective armed civilian resistance by the Tutsi during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.
For weeks, fighting with only sticks and stones, they held heavily armed killers at bay with guile and unprecedented courage in the face of certain death.
The numbers are staggering. An estimated 50,000 Tutsi fled government sponsored killing squads to the heights of Muyira Hill in Bisesero.
There, Birara – who previously lead a successful resistance against extremist militias years before – took charge of this desperate community.
With her family by her side, Epiphanie fought on, even as the attacks escalated from the Rwanda Armed Forces, and even as she watched members of her family and her friends killed by the dozens.
In the end, barely 1,000 Tutsi survived – among them Epiphanie, who rebuilt her life decades later in the same community that was nearly completely destroyed.
Now, this little known true tale of family, community, resistance and courage can be fully told.
And how Rwanda’s resilience helped create one of the most stable counties in Africa today.
Cast.
Production Team.
The Making of
Bisesero: A Daughter’s Story
Our team visited Bisesero from Oct 12 – Oct 18 2020; from May 2 to 6 2022 and on September 26th 2022 to collect firsthand detailed accounts of Bisesero’s resistance fighters.
In addition to their inspiring stories, we were reenergized by their incredible strength and determination to continuously lead a purposeful life.
Picture taken at Bisesero Memorial
Elder Gakoko, seated, is one of the resistance fighters. During the visit, our team crawled for 1h30 in the pit located in Nyiramakware forest that served as a safe heaven for a big number of wounded and exhausted fighters.
Picture taken on Muyira Hill
During the Genocide, the 16 years old Epiphanie fought bravely alongside her father Aminadabu Birara who led the resistance in Bisesero
Picture taken at Bisesero Memorial
Birara’s son Marcel (left); Executive Producer Richard (Middle), and Birara’s Daughter Epiphanie who is the film’s main character (right)
contact us.
Richard Hall.
Aleksay Ageyev.
Artist Intl. Group
Joel Karekezi
Designed by Sobanuka Ltd