Overview
A gripping portrayal of humanity's darkest hour during the Rwandan genocide.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- Graphic
- harrowing
- oppressive
- urgent
- historical reflection
- serious film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film's complex characters, on-location realism, stark geography, and palpable urgency, while noting the gravity of its subject.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The story follows thousands of Rwandan refugees sheltering at a school as militias target them.
The refugees are initially protected by Belgian U.N. forces but are left exposed when international protection is withdrawn.
The Ecole Technique Officielle and the deserted streets of Kigali shape the film's atmosphere of entrapment and imminent violence.
Idealistic teacher Joe Connor and priest Christopher must confront the limits of compassion amid the Rwandan genocide.
Films like Shooting Dogs, and why
Hotel Rwanda
shared historical drama, genocide subject, moral urgency, and focus on civilians trapped amid organized violence
Sometimes in April
shared African historical setting, political violence, intimate human perspective, and harrowing atmosphere
The Killing Fields
shared war drama, civilian vulnerability, institutional failure, and morally serious tone
Schindler's List
shared true-history drama, atrocity subject, ethical conflict, and emotionally devastating realism
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Caton-Jones
- Release Date
- 2006-03-08
- Runtime
- 115 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (168)
Cast
- John Hurt
- Hugh Dancy
- Dominique Horwitz
- Nicola Walker
- David Gyasi
- Steve Toussaint
- Clare-Hope Ashitey
- Susan Nalwoga
- Victor Power
- Victor Power
Common questions
- What is Shooting Dogs about?
- A priest and an idealistic teacher struggle to protect thousands of refugees as the Rwandan genocide closes around their besieged school.
- What is Shooting Dogs like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Shooting Dogs as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Shooting Dogs violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in Shooting Dogs as graphic.
- What did critics think of Shooting Dogs?
- Critics broadly praised the film's complex characters, on-location realism, stark geography, and palpable urgency, while noting the gravity of its subject.
- Which films are like Shooting Dogs?
- Films with a similar feel include Hotel Rwanda, Sometimes in April, The Killing Fields, and Schindler's List.
- How long is Shooting Dogs?
- Shooting Dogs runs 115 minutes.
