Director’s Note – Bisesero
When I first encountered the story of Bisesero, I felt an overwhelming mixture of emotions – anger, despair, but also a glimmer of hope. The 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda was a bleak chapter in human history, a time when humanity’s darkest side manifested in unimaginable violence. But amid the chaos and cruelty, there emerged stories of resistance, of courage, and of the undying human spirit.
The hillsides of Kibuye, including Bisesero, bear silent witness to a grim chapter in history, where Tutsis, armed with nothing but their resolve, faced a seemingly insurmountable enemy. It’s in these hillsides that our story unfolds – the story of a young Tutsi girl, thrown into a tempest of violence, who finds her strength, not just to survive, but to fight back.
At its core, Bisesero: A Daughter’s Story delves into the multi-faceted identities each one of us carries within. It questions: How do we define ourselves? By our ethnicity, our gender, our beliefs, our culture? And what happens when one aspect of our identity is threatened with extinction? The world has evolved since the Cold War, but violence still plagues us. Genocidal acts, though spanning centuries, feel eerily familiar – they challenge our essence, our cultures, our communities.
Bisesero: A Daughter’s Story aims to highlight the vitality of preserving these facets of identity. Our protagonist’s journey is more than just a physical one; it’s a spiritual odyssey to reclaim her identity, her community, and ultimately, her humanity. The overarching message we wish to convey is clear: while it is important to remember and mourn the tragedies of the past, it’s even more crucial to draw lessons from them. We must recognize and protect what’s precious to us, be it our culture, our values, or our very way of life.
In a world that often feels divided and polarized, I hope Bisesero: A Daughter’s Story serves as a poignant reminder of the collective strength of human spirit. The resilience of a community under siege, the power of a unified voice against adversity, and the boundless courage that emerges when everything is at stake.
This isn’t just a tale of survival. It’s a testament to the human spirit’s undying will to thrive, to resist, and to remember.
