The Last Just Man (2002) User Reviews

Unbelievable story...

[mellison-2 · 9/10 · 12 April 2004]

This is an incredible documentary. It tells the horrible story of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. I read about it in the papers, but this film is told through a UN commander from Canada. Dallaire is his name and I will never forget his story of the battle in Rwanda between the Hutus and Tutsi tribes. Tutsis were the

minority group and mainly farmers. 800,000 Tutsis were slaughtered, many with machetes. The Hutus were told to kill or be killed. Tutsis actually paid to be shot rather than killed with a machete. Romeo Dallaire is unforgettable as the real life commander who tried to stop this genocide, which was described as

worse than the Holocaust because the rate of murders was even greater in

Rwanda. Dallaire had no support from the UN or from the Belgian troops, which pulled out at the worst possible time. Watch this documentary simply because Americans need to know the story of the atrocities that took place in Rwanda. How many Americans aren't even aware of this historical event? This is by far the best documentary I have ever seen. The only bright side came at the end

when we are told that many of the Hutu leaders are now being prosecuted as

War criminals. A follow up documentary would be fascinating, but not as

poignant or informative as this stunning documentary.

Cant find the words...

[justbethy · 10/10 · 21 October 2003]

Having come across this unexpectly I was unprepeared for what I found..I can not imagine the horrors that took place in Rhwanda nor can I begin to appreciate what that amazing man went through...I cant not find the words to explain this..but if you get the chance you shoudl watch and judge for yourselves just how civilised WE are to have let this happen...

Very Moving and Informative Film

[frothywalrus · 10/10 · 3 August 2003]

Before when Rwanda was heard in passing it always seemed to be just another hot spot of conflict in Africa that held little meaning besides the fact they clamored for American assistance. After seeing this film it truly tells the horror and the hardship that this country has seen. In a world that tries so hard never to forget the Holocaust... we don't seem to try very hard to prevent acts of genocide. This movie is extremely poignant and well done... without it I would have never known what I did wrong... nothing at all.

great documentary, it will affect you

[tobiasn · 10/10 · 21 April 2003]

After a bit of background, we are told the chronological story of a genocide, events of 1994 in Rwanda. The focus of the story is the UN commander who was there, and unable to stop it. But it's not really about him, but about the 800,000 people who were killed, many hacked to death by machetes.

The right details are given. The interviews are excellent. There are clips (but only one of the violence, and it is seen in the distance).

10 stars. Documentaries do not get any better than this. But the subject is so real and so terrible you may not want to watch. If you watch it, you might be crying by the end.

very moving documentary

[evraymer · 25 September 2004]

I'd recommend this film to anyone. It was easily one of the most moving documentaries I've seen, portraying the failure of the UN and Western nations to act in Rwanda to prevent the 1994 genocide, and the impotence felt by Canadian Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire, who was stationed there at the time. (Lt.-Gen.

Dallaire, now retired, is "The Last Just Man" of the title.) View this film to get an idea of what we fail to do for third-world nations, despite the Western troops stationed all over the world. It may be particularly timely today in light of other conflicts, notably the one in Sudan.

Real "Tears of the Sun"

[wsmith6 · 10/10 · 5 February 2004]

Best documentary I've ever seen. While intense and painful, it isn't anything high school aged children can't see. I doubt it will ever appear on PBS however. SPOILER: "Tears of the Sun" portrayed the American's as hero's coming into prevent a genocide type onslaught. Despite America's failure to intervene in Rwanda before it was too late (UN and Clinton White House failures, notwithstanding) that "poetic license" could be discounted (Can't have Bruce Willis talk with a Canadian accent). But, the insult came when Tears portrayed the Nigerians as bad guys!!! They're army was the one that stood by Gen. Dallaire during an actual genocide. Most importantly, this documentary gave the background story behind the inhumanity that occurred.

Sin is Sin. However, Westerner's original sin is often the catalyst of much of the third world sin...not genetics.

Unbelievable story...

[mellison-2 · 9/10 · 12 April 2004]

This is an incredible documentary. It tells the horrible story of the genocide in Rwanda in 1994. I read about it in the papers, but this film is told through a UN commander from Canada. Dellare is his name and I will never forget his story of the battle in Rwanda between the Hutus and Tutsi tribes. Tutsis were the

minority group and mainly farmers. 800,000 Tutsis were slaughtered, many with machetes. The Hutus were told to kill or be killed. Tutsis actually paid to be shot rather than killed with a machete. Romeo Dallaire is unforgettable as the real life commander who tried to stop this genocide, which was described as

worse than the Holocaust because the rate of murders was even greater in

Rwanda. Dellare had no support from the UN or from the Belgian troops, which pulled out at the worst possible time. Watch this documentary simply because Americans need to know the story of one the atrocities that took place in

Rwanda. How many Americans aren't even aware of this historical event? This is by far the best documentary I have ever seen. The only bright side came at the end when we are told that many of the Hutu leaders are now being

prosecuted as War criminals. A follow up documentary would be fascinating,

but not as poignant or informative as this stunning documentary.

very poignant

[evraymer · 24 October 2003]

Viewers may find it hard to make it through this film dry-eyed. It's a poignant account of the attempts of one man -- Canadian Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire (now retired) -- to avert the genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994. The UN failed Rwanda; Lt.-Gen. Dallaire is "the last just man" of the film, which captures admirably the inability -- or unwillingness -- of the world community to act to avert tragedy.