Trees of Peace

A fine example of low-budget storytelling.

One of the most harrowing movies you will ever see, inspiring viewers to curl up into a tight ball, both physically and emotionally, but its power is undeniable and its rewards are many.

It's interesting to note that the film doesn't bother to explain why the Hutu hate the Tutsi. The answer is obvious as it is for all prejudices: There is no good reason.

Set during the 1990s Rwanda genocide, director Alanna Brown's devastating drama centers on four women trapped in a hiding place and struggling to stay alive amid mass slaughter in the streets. The impact the violence has on the women is heartbreaking.

A love letter to the resilience of the Rwandan women who found ways to not only survive, but to rebuild their countries from the ashes.

A compact, tense, well-acted and quietly gripping story of endurance...in cinematic shorthand, it is “Hotel Rwanda,” with its story and characters packed into Hitchcock’s “Lifeboat.”