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Father’s Day

Encounters 2022
© Iyugi Productions
Three family stories intersect in present-day Rwanda. A mother trying to cope with the loss of her son who died in an accident gradually distances herself from her husband; a small-time criminal living as a thief and a fence introduces his son to a life of living by his wits; and a young woman taking care of the ailing father she never truly loved prepares for the organ donation that could save his life.
After the hybrid work Europa: Based on a True Story, Kivu Ruhorahoza’s third feature film articulates with surprising ease the lexicon of the best literary and cinematic minimalism. The universal stories of the traumas and bonds of parents and children may be common, but choosing them amongst thousands of similar tales and bringing them to the screen with such care makes them extraordinary. Besides the meticulous writing, the impact of this work is achieved via cinematic means. The camera’s exceptional sensitivity to facial expressions and performance, and the colours of locations, clothes and objects for once not rendered in hyperreal fashion, create a density of expression in which we can immerse our gaze and get even closer to the characters.
by Kivu Ruhorahoza
with Mediatrice Kayitesi, Aline Amike, Yves Kijyana, Cedric Ishimwe, André Musagara, Elie Bigirimana Rwanda 2022 Kinyarwanda 111’ Colour World premiere

With

  • Mediatrice Kayitesi (Zaninka)
  • Aline Amike (Mukobwa)
  • Yves Kijyana (Karara)
  • Cedric Ishimwe (Kadogo)
  • André Musagara (Zaninka’s Husband)
  • Elie Bigirimana (Mukobwa’s Father)

Crew

Director Kivu Ruhorahoza
Cinematography Taté
Editing Kivu Ruhorahoza
Music Michael Makembe
Sound Eugene Safali
Production Design Ricardo Sankara
Costumes Sonia Uwimbabazi
Make-Up Becky Mucyo
Assistant Director Innocent Munyeshuri
Casting Dida Nibagwire
Production Manager Innocent Munyeshuri
Producers Kivu Ruhorahoza, Dida Nibagwire
Executive Producer Gaël Faye

Produced by

Iyugi Productions

Photos

Berlinale Meets | Interview

Kivu Ruhorahoza

© Taté

The filmmaker, writer and visual artist was born in Rwanda in 1982. His films and artistic works have been screened and exhibited at film festivals including Sundance, Sydney and Venice as well as in museums like the Tate Modern and MoMA. His writing is published by Les Éditions Magellan in Paris and has featured in “Chimurenga” magazine.

Filmography

2011 Grey Matter 2015 Things of the Aimless Wanderer 2018 The Orgelbuechlein Project; installation 2019 Tourism and Anthropology in the Wake of a Romantic Break-Up; short film · Europa: Based on a True Story 2020 Ghosts in the City; installation 2022 Father’s Day

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022