ACT THREE, SCENE ONE

INT. DAY. US EMBASSY, KIGALI

(Thursday, July 22nd)

We're there early and I of course have taken to grumbling about being "stripped searched" when in fact no such thing ever happened. My usual method of waking myself up has started to go over with humor (I hope!) among my companions. Anyway, folks are still being screened thru Security. Patti and I are both starting to pull on our reserves but the students are still energetic and probing with one question after another. We finish up with the categorical approaches to storytelling in this particular genre, work our way to the last list of questions to answer before you begin shooting, and then open things up a bit.

We ask them about their work and about their work-in-progress. Amazing answers!

Most are seeking to tell stories about the Genocide--survivor stories, stories of heorism; stories about post-Genocide characters that live on the streets, parents from different countries who met in exile but came back to open hostility. One young filmmaker works with a troupe of actors and turns real-world narratives into theatrical productions. Her group performed in Dallas and she's interested in doing more there and perhaps in other cities in the US. The current project she has in mind is about domestic violence in Rwanda. Another wants to produce a story about the impact of the Swahilli language; its unifying effects on peoples in the region. And, another is inspired by the clip we showed of SOUNDTRACK OF A REVOLUTION and wants to create his own documentary about the music that inspired and sustained the Freedom Fighters in his country. And there was much more. In a word....wow!

Another 2PM meeting is cancelled (gosh, darn it!) and we let the workshop run on a bit more. As it closes out we realize we're done---for now at least. Handshakes and hugs are shared all around. We take as many snapshots as we can, business cards are circulated, email addresses exchanged--and make sure to invite everyone to the evening's screening and hope to see them again on Friday night.

INT. NIGHT US EMBASSY, KIGALI

Its moving closer to 7PM by the time folks filter their way thru Security. The film is WHICH WAY HOME, an Oscar-nominated documentary which tells the story of two children who attempt to ride the trains from the border of Honduras to the Mexican border and on into the US. It is an incredible journey filled with all manor of dangers--trains jump the tracks, adults and children are raped--and there are 8, 9-year-old kids traveling by themselves! Its not much more comforting that the protagonists in this film are 14 -17 years of age....

After we roll the footage, the crowd is very quiet. Eddie made sure to introduce us asnot the producers/directors of the film but were there representing the organization helped organize the screening and workshop series. A few hands/voices raise themselves and the questions are mostly speculative--what kind of relationship did the filmmakers develop with the teenagers? The parents? What about the police? Why are they not seen (or referred to favorably) in the film? An older couple in the front comments about the improbable nature of letting people travel atop trains when its clearly illegal--and now the discussion truly begins.

All nations have problems with their borders, with immigrant/migrant populations and their effects on economies (food, housing, medicine, education, etc.) Seeing it thru the lens of this story, our audience began examining the particulars of the film and their relationship to larger issues such as the cost of hiring a "coyote" vs. using that money to start a "micro-business", or the effects it has on mothers who successfully emigrated but in turn sacrificed their connection to families left behind in order to help out financially. [Given that the film suggested the 100's of thousands of children are turned away each year, the sheer number of people traversing the Mexican countryside (via rail) and its impact on the social structure is staggering.]

I would love to say this was a "transformative" experience for our audience (a term we were asked to keep in mind as regards one of our overall objectives) but it certainly was "provocative" and I'm willing to settle for that.