Finding Hillywood

Finding Hillywood is a compelling and remarkable documentary film released in 2013, featuring key figures of the Rwandan film industry - Eric Kabera, Nicole Kalisa, and Rodrigues Karekezi. The riveting documentary is directed by Leah Warshawski and Christopher Towey and is set against the backdrop of the stunning landscape of Rwanda. The purpose of the film is to provide a unique insight into the healing power of film and its ability to foster a sense of community.

Eric Kabera is the heart of the film. He is typically described as the father of Rwanda’s film industry and is renowned for establishing the country's first local film production company and initiating the celebrated Rwanda Film Festival, also colloquially known as Hillywood. Kabera's desire to invigorate the Rwandan film industry with homegrown talent proves to be an inspiring and courageous quest considering the scars his country bears due to its horrific past. He understands the gravitas of his role in shaping the narrative and historical memory of his nation, and viewers see this weight carried throughout the film.

Nicole Kalisa and Rodrigues Karekezi, like Kabera, are key figures in the Rwandan film community, contributing their talents and voices to the burgeoning industry. The film presents these individuals as pioneers, pushing creative boundaries in order to build and cement an industry almost from scratch. They represent hope for a future where their nation is not primarily associated with its harrowing history but also celebrated for its artistic pursuits, resilience, and healing.

Finding Hillywood works on several different levels. On one hand, it's a tribute to cinema and a depiction of how it can have transformative effects on a society. By exploring Rwanda through a cinematic lens, the filmmakers subtly highlight the country's beauty, culture, and its people's resilience, presenting a side of Rwanda the world often overlooks. On another level, it's a story of resilience and recovery, demonstrating how Rwanda, despite its tragic history, is slowly healing, rebuilding, and charting a future filled with hope.

Warshawski and Towey's film also explores the innovative concept of 'Hillywood', which, as stated, is a term coined for the annual Rwanda Film Festival. Hillywood travels around the country, offering Rwandans an opportunity to watch films in makeshift outdoor cinemas. It provides a source of entertainment and togetherness for the community while helping them grapple with the country’s traumatic past. The 'Hillywood' experience is a significant portion of the film, showing how the local communities engage with film, bond over shared experiences and even find relief from their day-to-day challenges.

Finding Hillywood also raises critical questions about the role of film and storytelling in a nation’s healing process after catastrophic events. It shines a spotlight on the importance of homegrown storytelling, which fosters a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of countries like Rwanda, divorcing them from single-story narratives that the world often falls prey to. Here, cinema is depicted not simply as a form of entertainment, but as a vehicle for empathy, healing, and change.

The filming style of Finding Hillywood is straightforward and intimate. The filmmakers travel extensively throughout Rwanda, taking viewers into remote corners of the country and highlighting its gorgeous landscape. In this process, they succeed in capturing the spirit of the Rwandan people — their stories of pain, resilience, dreams, and their determination to shape a brighter future.

This exceptional documentary succeeds in capturing the heart, soul, and essence of Rwanda through its burgeoning film industry. The characters, notably Kabera, Kalisa and Karekezi, beautifully draw us into their world. Anyone interested in the intersection of film, culture, and resilience, or simply seeking a unique, uplifting and inspiring cinematic experience will undoubtedly appreciate Finding Hillywood.

Finding Hillywood is a clear example of the power of film to shape narratives and foster communal healing. It's a fascinating and inspiring deep dive into Rwanda's ongoing journey of recovery and its determination to redefine itself through the powerful medium of cinema.