CANCELED: The Mercy of the Jungle

(La miséricorde de la jungle)

All film screenings and public programs at BAMPFA have been temporarily canceled. Learn more

featuring

Stéphane Bak, Marc Zinga, Ibrahim Ahmed, Abby Mukiibi Nkaaga,

Two Rwandan soldiers embark on a journey of survival through the unforgiving jungle in this visceral feature from Joël Karekezi, himself a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. Set during 1998’s Second Congo War, the film follows Xavier, a lifelong military man, and Faustin, a farmer turned reluctant soldier, who find countless miles of wilderness (and multiple Congolese patrols) between themselves and safety. “I wanted the jungle to be the story’s main antagonist, [using] nature and its immensity to question the absurdity of the actions of humankind, and the madness of war,” writes Karekezi, who was inspired by Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line.

Jason Sanders
FILM DETAILS 
Screenwriter
  • Joël Karekezi
  • Casey Schroen
Cinematographer
  • Joachim Philippe
Language
  • French
  • Swahili
  • with English subtitles
Print Info
  • Color
  • DCP
  • 91 mins
Source
  • African Film Festival National Traveling Series