Shake Hands with the Devil (2007) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

Dallaire struggles to protect civilians in Rwanda while restrictive mandates and international inaction undermine the peacekeeping mission.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

A Mission Built on Hope

Dallaire arrives in Rwanda to lead UNAMIR and sees a chance for peace despite the country's history of conflict. Anyidoho and Beardsley join the mission as its work begins.

Key Events

• A Question About Survival — An unidentified woman asks Dallaire whether he wants to continue living. Location: Unspecified
• Arrival in Rwanda — Dallaire arrives to command the United Nations mission. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire Location: Rwanda
• The Peacekeeping Mission Forms — Anyidoho and Beardsley join Dallaire as UNAMIR personnel begin their work. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire, Brigadier General Henry Anyidoho, Major Brent Beardsley Location: Rwanda
• Fragile Peace and Rising Hope — Dallaire sees the country's beauty and hopes the opposing sides can secure lasting peace. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire Location: Rwanda

The Peace Begins to Fracture

Reports of illegal weapons and the inability to shelter an informer expose the mission's limits. Attacks on Tutsi civilians and pressure to prepare an evacuation deepen the crisis.

Key Events

• Illegal Weapons Reported — Reports indicate that illegal weapons are being stockpiled in Kigali. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire Location: Kigali
• The Informer Cannot Be Sheltered — The mission cannot offer asylum to an informer. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire Location: Rwanda
• Crowds Attack Tutsi Civilians — UNAMIR personnel intervene when crowds attack Tutsi people trying to leave a compound. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire Location: A compound in Rwanda
• Pressure to Prepare Evacuation — The Security Council demands an evacuation plan and warns the mission may end. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire Location: UNAMIR mission
• Dallaire Opposes Abandonment — Dallaire argues that leaving would abandon civilians, despite the mission's restrictive mandate. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire Location: UNAMIR mission

Refugees Under Protection

After peacekeepers are killed and hate broadcasts encourage mass murder, thousands of refugees seek safety at UNAMIR compounds. Dallaire orders Bangladeshi forces to protect them and refuses to withdraw while civilians depend on the mission.

Key Events

• Peacekeepers Are Killed — Belgian peacekeepers are killed as hate broadcasts encourage mass murder. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire Location: Rwanda
• Refugees Seek UNAMIR Protection — Thousands flee toward UNAMIR compounds, and Dallaire orders Bangladeshi forces to protect them. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire, Bangladeshi Commander Location: UNAMIR compounds
• Moderate Leaders Are Killed — Dallaire learns many moderate leaders have been killed but continues to believe moderates remain in the army. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire Location: Rwanda
• Dallaire Refuses Withdrawal — After Boutros Boutros-Ghali orders withdrawal, Dallaire refuses while about 30,000 people remain under UNAMIR protection. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire Location: UNAMIR mission

Holding On Without Relief

UNAMIR remains with sharply reduced forces, failing vehicles, and dwindling supplies. The mission continues its efforts to protect civilians and provide aid while its compound and hospital come under fire; no promised supplies arrive.

Key Events

• A Reduced Mission Endures — With reduced forces and dwindling supplies, the remaining personnel resolve to protect civilians and deliver aid. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire, Brigadier General Henry Anyidoho, Major Brent Beardsley Location: UNAMIR compounds
• Compound and Hospital Under Fire — The compound and hospital come under fire as the surrounding violence grows more horrifying. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire, Brigadier General Henry Anyidoho, Major Brent Beardsley Location: UNAMIR compound and hospital
• No Relief Arrives — Emma Baker confirms that no additional troops, fuel, food, or bandages have arrived. Characters: Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire Location: UNAMIR mission

Story Breakdown

• Arrival and Mandate — Dallaire arrives to lead UNAMIR and confronts the gap between hopes for peace and the mission's limited authority.
  • Rwanda Arrival — Dallaire begins his command of the UN mission in Rwanda.
  • Peacekeeping Team — Anyidoho and Beardsley join as UNAMIR personnel begin their work.
• Fragile Peace — The peace process faces growing danger as the mission receives reports of weapons and encounters limits on protecting an informer.
  • Weapons in Kigali — Reports emerge of illegal weapons being stockpiled in Kigali.
  • Informer Unprotected — UNAMIR cannot offer asylum to an informer.
• Civilians Under Attack — Violence against Tutsi civilians forces UNAMIR personnel to intervene while international pressure favors evacuation.
  • Compound Attack — Crowds attack Tutsi people trying to leave a compound.
  • Evacuation Demand — The Security Council demands an evacuation plan and questions the mission's continuation.
• Refugees Seek Shelter — As mass violence escalates, thousands turn to UNAMIR compounds for protection.
  • Peacekeepers Killed — Belgian peacekeepers are killed as broadcasts encourage mass murder.
  • Bangladeshi Protection — Dallaire orders Bangladeshi forces to protect refugees.
• Defying Withdrawal — Dallaire opposes withdrawal because civilians continue to depend on UNAMIR's protection.
  • Moderate Leaders Lost — Dallaire learns that many moderate leaders have been killed.
  • Thirty Thousand Protected — Dallaire refuses to withdraw while about 30,000 people remain under UNAMIR protection.
• Mission Under Fire — The reduced mission persists amid shortages, attacks, and the absence of outside relief.
  • Aid and Witness — Remaining personnel resolve to protect civilians, deliver humanitarian aid, and bear witness.
  • No Supplies Arrive — Emma Baker confirms that troops, fuel, food, and bandages have not arrived.

Directed by

Roger Spottiswoode

Key Cast

• Roy Dupuis — Lieutenant General Roméo Dallaire
• Owen Sejake — Brigadier General Henry Anyidoho
• James Gallanders — Major Brent Beardsley
• Michel Ange Nzojibwami — Colonel Théoneste Bagosora
• Michel Mongeau — Colonel Luc Marchal