The first domestic violence film, ‘Urugamba Nk’Izindi, is getting an increased reception after its third public screening at Serena Hotel recently. The third screening attracted different dignitaries including Protais Mitali, the Minister of Youth.

A number of people who attended the screening went out with a copy of the DVDs which were sold at the entrance. The DVD’s circulation has steadily increased.

Alphonse Nkuranga, the in-charge of strategic planning in the Ministry of Sports and Culture said that the line ministry would consider supporting the film industry.

"No minister can pass as many messages in an hour like this film. A film has greater impact than a speech,” Nkuranga said.

He advised the producers of the ‘Urugamba Nk’Izindi’ film to screen it in rural areas as well, hailing the film as an important message that addresses domestic violence.

"Films produced locally depict our culture as contrasted with Hollywood films that impart a lot of foreign culture,” Nkuranga added. He said the film tackled family issues that are central to the country’s development.

"We need people like this. This shows you how creative Rwandans can be. It is a very nice film that does not come from Hollywood or Nigeria. Why can’t we have our own films acted in Kinyarwanda? This is so beautiful!” remarked one film enthusiast.

Mid this year, the film Urugamba Nk’Izindi was launched at Prime Holdings in Kimihurura, and later taken to the National University of Rwanda though it did not receive the expected reception like it received at the Kigali Serena Hotel.

A new film locally shot and produced, Urugamba Nk’Izindi (a war like others) is acted by talented local actors including Bushombe and Solina from Urunana radio drama as the main actors.

The one hour and a half film shows a happy family which, however, later ends breaking up. The two protagonists, Jean-Claude Ayirwanda (Bushombe) and Marie-Rose Uwamariya (Rosa) give a number of interesting episodes that leave the audience yearning for more.

The family in the Urugamba Nk’Izindi film shows a wife being blamed by the husband for his business failure and not giving birth to boys, a thing that sparks off domestic violence.

The climax of the family violence comes when the husband (Bushombe) directly confronts and threatens to beat up his pregnant wife in the presence of visitors. But later the husband calms down and apologizes to the whole family and becomes a better father.

The film was directed by Rogers Niyoyit,a a young and fresh graduate from National University of Rwanda. The executive producer is Caritus Uwizeye, a woman with aspirations.

The film is meant to help people stop gender-related violence. The executive producer is said to have been inspired by persisted domestic violence that is gender-based.

This new film follows several other Rwandan films about the 1994 Genocide. Nonetheless, film production in Rwanda is still generally low.

Caritas Uwizeye becomes the first woman to be an executive producer of a film in Rwanda. The domestic violence-related film Urugamba Nk’Izindi becomes the first of its kind in the country.

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