A Love During The War

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It’s a Wrap!

March 6 | A Love During The War, HRWFF Closing Reception | julie

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anpLun7lm5A[/youtube]

The 5th Annual Toronto Human Rights Film Festival wrapped last night with Osvalde Lewat-Hallade’s moving documentary A Love During The War. The screening was preceded by a reception at Bau-Xi Gallery and a heart-breaking speech by Sgt. Debbie Bodkin about her experiences working as an investigator with the United Nations Commission of Inquiry for Darfur in Sudan. (More to follow in the coming days on Sgt. Bodkin’s speech).

All in all this year’s festival was a rousing success with sold-out houses for all seven films. Highlights included the opening night film, Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame, which continues to grab accolades and awards at major film festivals throughout the world; Chop Shop, an amazing sophomore effort from director Ramin Bahrani; and These Girls for the best opening shot of the festival.

The festival was also honored to have director Alex Gibney in attendance just days after winning the Oscar for his documentary Taxi to the Dark Side. While in Toronto, Alex was interviewed by Anna Maria Tremonti for CBC Radio’s “The Current.” That interview has now been posted to the CBC Website and can be streamed as a Real Audio file. And for those of you who are fans of night-time talk show “The Hour”, Alex’s interview with George Stroumboulopoulous is also online.

Thanks to everyone who attended despite the chilly winter weather. We hope you enjoy the video clip (above), which was shot opening night at the Isabel Bader Theatre.

Tagged alex gibney, cbc, debbie bodkin, human rights watch

Opening Night Screening Sold-Out

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February 27 | A Love During The War, Buddha Collapsed Out Of Shame, Chop Shop, El Ejido, Taxi To The Dark Side, These Girls, We'll Never Meet Childhood Again | julie

buddha collapsed surrender

The opening night screening of Buddha Collapsed Out of Shame is sold-out. Hana Maklmalbaf’s award-winning film of a tiny Afghani girl who wants to go to school has been a hit on the festival circuit winning awards at the Festival du nouveau cinéma, the Thessaloniki Film Festival and the Berlinale.

Unfortunately, the film’s director could not be present for the screening. She did, however, send a message, which will be read by the festival’s chair, Helga Stephenson.

Taxi to the Dark Side, which screens March 3rd with director Alex Gibney in attendance is also sold-out as is Ramin Bahrani’s Chop Shop. Chop Shop opened in NYC this week to rave reviews.

Tickets to the Sunday matinée presentation of We’ll Never See Childhood Again are still available as are tickets to El Ejido, The Law of Profit, These Girls and A Love During The War.

Toronto Closing Night Reception

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February 24 | A Love During The War, HRWFF Closing Reception | julie

a love during the war closing night

A co-presentation between Cinematheque Ontario and the Human Rights Watch Toronto Committee featuring a screening of A Love During The War.

A Love During The War manages a remarkable feat, telling an uplifting story of love that is utterly uncontrived, while situating it within the context of
a bloody war and the horrifying phenomenon of systematic rape committed by militias and armies in the Congo.

Special Guest Sgt. Debbie Bodkin will share stories of her experience in Sudan and the continuing plight of the people of Darfur. In 2004, Sgt. Bodkin worked as an investigator with the United Nations Commission of Inquiry for Darfur in Sudan, searching out and interviewing victims, witnesses and suspects of the occurring horrific crimes.

Dr. Sumeet Sodhi, Director of Research and Operations for Dignitas International will introduce the film.

6:00 pm Reception
Bau-Xi Gallery, 340 Dundas Street West

7:30 pm Film Screening
Art Gallery of Ontario’s Jackman Hall, 317 Dundas St. West
(McCaul Street entrance)

$30 Ticket includes reception and film screening
or film tickets only: $5.90 for Cinematheque or AGO members and $10.14 for non-members (GST and fees not included).

To order tickets for the closing reception, please visit Eventbrite, the online event registration service.

To purchase tickets for the film only, and other Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival screenings, call 416-968-FILM, visit or the TIFFG Box Office, located at Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West, Main Floor (North Entrance).

Human Rights Watch is grateful for the generous support of Closson Chase Vineyard, Hero Ventures Ltd. and Kim Samuel Johnson.

Closing Night Reception is in support of Human Rights Watch.

Tagged cinematheque ontario, congo, darfur, debbie bodkin, dignitas international, human rights watch, sumeet sodhi

A Love During The War

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January 1 | A Love During The War | julie

a love during the war

A Love During The War (Congo/Cameroon)
Director: Osvalde Lewat-Hallade
Year: 2006
Runtime: 63 minutes
Screening Times: March 5, 2008, 7:30 PM
Screens at Jackman Hall, Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West

Synopsis:
Aziza and her four kids are separated from her husband at the beginning of the catastrophic civil war that hit the Congo in 1996. Six years later, they are reunited but must deal with the ghosts of what they have witnessed — the senseless killings and brutal rapes that have become the hallmarks of this African war.

Director’s Biography:
Osvalde Lewat-Hallade started her career as a journalist. She produced her first documentary “Upsa Yimoowin” or the “Pipe of Hope” in Toronto. She became famous with “Beyond the Pains” (2003), featuring a prisoner who was convicted for four years, but has been in jail for 33 years.

Interview with Osvalde Lewat-Hallade in Le Potentiel (French).

Co-presented with HotDocs

Overview by Julie Giles

Tagged congo, osvalde lewat-hallade

A Love During The War
– Program Notes

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January 1 | A Love During The War | julie

a love during the war

A Love During The War manages a remarkable feat, telling an uplifting story of love that is utterly uncontrived, while situating it within the context of a bloody war and the horrifying phenomenon of systematic rape committed by militias and armies in the Congo.

The two lovers in question are journalist Aziza and her husband Dedier, who are separated by the outbreak of the Congo-Kinshasa war in 1996, a conflict that eventually claimed the lives of three million people. Direct, riveting interviews reveal the angst Aziza and Dedier endured throughout their six-year-long severance.

Through the actions of Aziza, who takes an interest in the brutal experiences of a young girl who was gang-raped by several uniformed men, director Osvalde Lewat-Hallade seamlessly synthesizes a personal story with an examination of the use of rape as a tool of war. The result is stirring and ultimately galvanizing, as one cannot help but feel awed by the courage and resilience of women who have overcome stigma and trauma to speak out.

Co-presented with HotDocs

Program notes by George Kaltsounakis

Tagged congo, osvalde lewat-hallade