Video Librarian - January/February 2007
Through My Eyes: A Film About Rwandan Youth 
(2006) 44 min. In Rwandan w/English subtitles. DVD: $99.95. Choices, Inc. PPR. ISBN: 1-933724-06-4.
Ten years after Rwanda exploded in an ethnic genocidal rage that took the lives of an estimated 800,000 people in 100 days, Through My Eyes asks how well the nation’s youth (using the U.N.’s definition of ages 15-24, many of whom are orphans) are dealing with the aftermath. Kavila Matu’s documentary focuses on surviving Rwandan youth who express past horrors through theatre, music, art, and dance (younger victims are also profiled, including a 14-year-old girl who is head of a household consisting of just her two younger siblings). Although many young people actually took part in the killings, the emphasis here is on creative efforts to forgive, heal, and work towards a brighter future in Rwanda (the desire for education is very strong, from the street kids who wish they could go to school, to the rural children whose classes are conducted under acacia trees with a paper-sized slate serving as their blackboard). Moving and thought-provoking, this is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Reagan)
School Library Journal - January 2007
Through My Eyes: A Film About Rwandan Youth
Gr 9-Up - In a testimonial to the strength and resiliency of the human spirit, the producers of this moving, powerful, and dramatic documentary explore the aftermath of the 1994 genocide which took place in Rwanda and how the youthful survivors are dealing with their personal and national grief. They employ various art forms, such as music, dance, poetry, and painting, to express their feelings and their seemingly unbridled positive enthusiasm for the future. This optimism , even in the face of dire conditions, is the principal theme throughout the production. Their resolve is supported by their religious beliefs as well as the assistance of international agencies; a suppelmental section of the program includes an interview with a UNICEF official who details their efforts to help. The presentation is heavily infused with interviews with these children and young adults whose stories are related utilizing English subtitles, but the crisp narration is in English. The program is divided into six sections - introduction, cultural festival, focus on one of the victims, the estate where many orphans live, education, and lessons learned from the country's ordeal. The main portion is supplemented with links to an online lesson plan as well as a photo gallery of stills from the program. School media specialists will find this a wonderfully effective and useful acquistion for classroom and individual use. - Dwain Thomas, Lake Park High School, Roselle, IL