In Rwanda, Sébastien finds traces of personal history in the wake of national tragedy

Born and raised in Québéc to a white Québécois mother, the Canadian broadcaster Sébastien Desrosiers grew up knowing that his father was from Rwanda – and had no idea that his son even existed. Though somewhat uninterested in seeking out his father in childhood, Desrosiers was 28 when he finally met him, and the two formed an instant bond. The short documentary Ndagukunda déjà (I Love You, Already) follows Desrosiers as he makes his first journey to Rwanda in search of his roots there. With his visit coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, it’s also a sombre search for the stories of his many relatives who were murdered. Featuring accomplished filmmaking from Desrosiers and the Canadian director David Findlay, the documentary sees Desrosiers coming to terms with his biracial identity, and the fact that his birth was the result of the ‘explosion’ that was the Rwandan genocide. With vivid cinematography framing the rich Rwandan landscape, the film forms a bittersweet melding of personal and national history.

via Short of the Week