Thirty years after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda, a new documentary, The Things We Don’t Say, directed by Ornella Mutoni, brings to the forefront the stories of children born of war in its aftermath.
Mutoni, who survived the genocide as a baby and grew up in Europe, returned to Rwanda to explore how her generation has been affected by the events of 1994. In her journey, she discovered that many of her peers have buried their pain, struggling with the weight of inherited trauma and societal stigma.
The documentary follows a group of young Rwandans, confronting the family secrets and the wounds their generation is carrying. We witness 29 year old Thierry, as he begins his journey to let go of the weight he carries from the stigma of being conceived through genocidal rape. In a circle of supportive peers, the group opens up about the burdens they individually and collectively face. The workshop is led by Emilienne, a therapist and genocide survivor, who holds the pain of the next generation of Rwandans, whilst acknowledging the trauma she has passed on to her own daughters.
The Things We Don’t Say is a contemplative and layered short documentary that allows the audience to observe the individual and intergenerational legacies of mass violence, and the power of listening for collective healing. It documents the struggles children born of war often face: stigma, identity crises, silence, and the lasting weight of inherited trauma.
The CBOW Project highly recommends watching this powerful and necessary documentary.
The film is available for viewing through Guardian Documentaries.