Sometimes in April is a compelling, complicated film dealing with the relationship between two brothers on opposite sides of the Rwandan genocide in 1994. At the end of the movie, Agustine and his brother Honore are sitting at a table during the gencide tribunal where Honore is on trial for crimes against humanity.
What do you think Agustine should do? Should he forgive his brother - or should he continue to hold him partially responsible for the death of his wife and three children? If so, why should he be held responsible? If not, why not?
I don't think he should be held fully responsible for the death of Agustine's wife and children because it was Agustine who wanted Honore to bring them to safety. There was really nothing he was able to do once they hit that road block. His intentions were good to try to save them. On the other hand though he ran the radio station that kind of encouraged the genocide and the killings. Yes, I believe he is responsible for crimes against humanity but not necessarily of his brother's wife and children.
ReplyDeleteI think Augustine should forgive his brother for the death of his wife and his children. Honore loved his family which is why he took the chance of trying to smuggle them to a safe location. He got Augustine's family through all the check points he knew existed, but he did not know about the military checkpoint. When the soldiers at the checkpoint asked Honore questions, he did everything in his power to save the wife and kids but it wasn't enough.Therefore, Augustine should forgive his brother.
ReplyDeleteAugustine should not hold his brother responsible for the death of his wife and children. Though he did so rather begrudgingly, Honore truly did his best to protect (and attempt to save) Augustine's family. Given the situation, it did not seem as though Honored could have done anything to save them. However, Honore should not be forgiven. Honore was a huge source of propaganda (via the radio station) that spread anti-Tutsi sentiments and fueled the genocide. Augustine should always remember that Honore played a huge role in this genocide.
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ReplyDeleteI believe that Augustine should with out a doubt forgive his brother, Honore. Although Honore played a major role in the morning genocide/radio station he eventually realized that what he was doing was wrong. He wanted to make up for the harm he had caused. Augustine has no reason to hold Honore responsible for the death of his family. Honore had good intentions to save them but once he got to the road block there was nothing more he could do.
ReplyDeleteAugustine should definitely forgive his brother. It was not Honore's fault that there was an unexpected road block. He did everything he could to protect the family. He tried calling for help but there was nothing anybody could do to save Augustine's family once they got to the road block. Honore did everything he could to save Augustine's wife. He hid her body and came back once the road was deserted and carried her to what he through was safety in a church. He had no way of knowing the terrible fate she would face.
ReplyDeleteI do not believe Augustine should forgive his brother Honore. Honore, although tried to save 5 Tutsi's, was partly responsible for the death of thousands. He ran the radio station which was a huge contributor to the spread of the genocide. If Augustine forgave him, it would not allow Honore to truly comprehend the actions he took on air. I believe Honore tried his best to help Augustine's family, however did not succeed. It was not directly his fault, however this was the consequence of his previous genocidal actions. That road block which stopped them was indirectly the fault of Honore.
ReplyDeleteAgustine should forgive Honore. Honore did all he could do to try to save the family. There was really no escaping the inevitable. Although Honore was the one who spread all the anti-Tutsi sentiments, it wasn't his fault that Tutsi s were killed. Honore was just another tool used by the Hutus. He was expendable and could easily be replaced. If it wasn't Honore spreading the messages, the Hutus would have recruited someone else to do so. If he did choose to step down, that could have put his life at risk for being a moderate Hutu. There really was no good option to pick in these situations. Honore did what he could at the roadblock, but unfortunately sooner or later Agustine's family was going to be murdered.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Augustine should hold anything against his brother. His brother did nothing wrong. Augustine asked his brother to bring his family to a safe spot but he didn't want to do it in the first place but Augustine basically forced his brother into saying yes. Honore tried his best to get the family past the road blocks and even called someone that he thought would let them pass. After shooting the family, Honore even stayed by their side . Therefore other than the hate radio, Augustine shouldn't hold anything against his brother.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that Augustine should hold anything against his brother. His brother did nothing wrong. Augustine asked his brother to bring his family to a safe spot but he didn't want to do it in the first place but Augustine basically forced his brother into saying yes. Honore tried his best to get the family past the road blocks and even called someone that he thought would let them pass. After shooting the family, Honore even stayed by their side . Therefore other than the hate radio, Augustine shouldn't hold anything against his brother.
ReplyDeleteI do not think he should hold his brother responsible for the horrible things that happened. The brother, after all was trying to help and get the wife and children to safety. It was not all his fault that he could not. He even went back risking his life for the wife. So many horrible things did happen, now this is the only family he really has left. I think Agustine need to have some of his past (before the genocide) because he did loose so much. The genocide is now over and Agustine needs some family to be with him, and to forgive, as a way to move on and keep living his life.
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