Trees of Peace

I feel this film could have been great if it just gave the viewer a little more than we got, the dialogue for this film was really great and the cinematography really makes the viewer feel like they are trapped inside the room with them. The story is where I find the biggest flaw, we get some okay character development but thats where it ends. The film closes out with nothing at the end, just cut off, and in a movie like this where character and dialogue is key we only got one half of the pie. We spend 90% of the film learning about the characters for nothing. Decent film tho.

This movie tells the stories of 4 women in a extraordinary situation, against the backdrop of a the Rwanda genocide. The film speaks to the heart of women and brings their struggles into focus.

More important than that, it amplifies the voices of the unseen in Rwanda. It sheds light on the horrors they faced, and it invites the viewer to feel their pain, hope their hopes, and dream their dreams. It's truly a beautiful film.

Trees of peace takes place durning the Rwandan genocide, also known as the genocide against the Tutsi in 1994.

The film follows four women of different backgrounds, as they take refuge in a small space below a home as militants seek to murder all Tutsi people and those who sympathize with them.

What really stood out to me in this film was the ability to capture my attention from the very start of the film. Everything from the writing to the acting, directing production was at the highest level. The way the story kept my attention is something to behold in itself as the whole film takes place in this small space over a period of 80+ days.

This film is a reminder of the cruelty of humanity but also the kindness and love of it. I wouldn't be surprised if this gets Oscar nods. It's just that good. I'm excited to see where the careers of all involved go, especially Writer/Director Alannah Brown. I highly recommend this film!

This movie is difficult and uncomfortable to watch, which is the point. Alanna shoots the movie in a tight space, following four women as they try to survive a war in hiding. The way this film is shot puts you in the small crawl space with these women, making you feel claustrophobic and uneasy. It brings to life for the viewer what these women are feeling. This is a movie to be experienced, not just watched. You will leave with a greater appreciation of the suffering war brings as well as the strength and companionship it takes to survive it. This is a beautiful film, written and directed by a very talented female director. I highly recommend this film.

There are few films these days that make it into the category of true "must see" films. While I had knowledge of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the tragedies and horrific crimes against humanity committed felt very far away and disconnected from my own life. Trees of Peace gives the viewer a personal perspective of what it's like to live and die in a hell that the majority of us will never have to face.

The audience benefits from the well thought decisions made by the Director. Each scene is craftily curated, and preplanned to the point that one feels that they are experiencing the film alongside the characters as opposed to only observing it. These characters that we sit beside are fully formed people with real dialog, who we can all relate to in some capacity, and because of this it is easy to remain engaged in the story happening all around us.

The cast members are lost in the characters. We never see actors, but instead they disappear into their God given talent and skill in front of the camera and we as the audience only believe we are watching life itself, and not art imitating it.

I believe Trees of Peace gives another voice to people in the global conversation of freedom and equality that may have been overlooked, and I applaud the efforts and sacrifices of the Producer to present this gift to the world.

This piece of cinema uses a news story to remind us all of how fragile our lives are and it teaches us how we can behave and how we can relate to one another, regardless of our background.