March auds sneak a peek at 'April'

Rwanda in spotlight once again

By WILLA PASKIN

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HBO's Colin Callender and Oris Erhuero at the 'Sometimes in April' preem.

 

NEW YORK -- Preemed earlier this year before a crowded stadium in Rwanda, a Gotham audience got its first look at HBO Films' "Sometimes in April," about the Rwandan genocide, on March 7.

Helmer and writer Raoul Peck was joined by authors Samantha Power, Allison Des Forges, Dina Temple-Raston and CNN's Jeff Greenfield for a panel discussion that focused, quickly and often, on the current genocide in Sudan.

Power, remarking on American presidents' usual inaction when faced with genocide, hoped the film could change that, noting "If you have future policymakers in the audience, maybe you think, uh-oh, I don't want to end up in Raoul's next film."

When Greenfield asked what the appropriate U.S. response was in such situations, Des Forges explained, "It's wrong to go around expecting a genocide behind every bush," an accidental wording that got a big laugh from the audience. "An uncapitalized bush," Greenfield clarified.