Frontline Season 22 Episode 11 Ghosts of Rwanda

In season 22 episode 11 of Frontline titled "Ghosts of Rwanda," the show depicts the horrific genocide of Rwanda in 1994. This episode of Frontline follows various stories of the Rwandan genocide through the eyes of people who survived the unimaginable violence.

The episode starts with journalist Joe Schlesinger, who was one of the first reporters to arrive in Rwanda during the genocide. He is interviewed about his experiences during that time, and he paints a vivid picture of the chaos and brutality of the killings.

We then meet a survivor named Jean-Pierre Sagahutu, who lost almost his entire family during the genocide. Through him, we see the horrors of machetes, which were the primary weapon used to kill people during the genocide. Jean-Pierre's story is a heartbreaking one, as he recounts how he had to hide beneath dead bodies to avoid being killed himself, and then later had to move through piles of corpses to search for his family members.

In addition to Jean-Pierre's story, we also hear from other survivors who describe their experiences during the genocide. One woman tells of how she was shot and left for dead, only to be rescued by a stranger who risked his own life to save her. Another survivor recounts how she had to watch as her father was beaten to death right in front of her.

The episode also touches on the role of the international community in responding to the genocide. There is a lot of footage of news reports from the time, in which various officials and commentators express concern about the situation in Rwanda. However, as the episode makes clear, very little was done to intervene, and the international community largely stood by as the genocide unfolded.

A significant portion of the episode is devoted to the role of the United Nations during the genocide. The UN had a peacekeeping force in Rwanda at the time, but they were largely powerless to intervene in the violence. There are interviews with UN officials who describe the challenges they faced in trying to protect people during the genocide, as well as footage of speeches by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who has faced criticism for the UN's handling of the situation.

Overall, "Ghosts of Rwanda" is a devastating look at one of the most horrifying events of the late 20th century. The stories of the survivors are difficult to watch, but they are an important reminder of the atrocities that humans are capable of committing. The episode also raises important questions about the role of the international community in preventing mass killings. Ultimately, "Ghosts of Rwanda" is a powerful and moving piece of documentary filmmaking that is sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers.