Shooting Dogs grips your heart and mind in the opening scenes and does not let go until the closing credits. The story focuses on two English men living in Rwanda and their struggle to survive the tragically brutal acts of genocide in 1994. Christopher (John Hurt) is a priest who runs a local school in Kigali. Joe (Hugh Dancy) is a passionate, young teacher who is desperate to make a difference. The two men share a bond that proves to be a godsend in the harrowing situation they are thrown into.

When Hutu militias begin slaughtering thousands of Tutsi, many flee to the safety of Christopher’s school. The disturbing sense of menace grows as crowds of voracious Hutus gather outside the school fences, and the shocking scenes of slaughter are much more real than you ever want to see.

The film traces the horrific story of genocide from the ‘outsider’ perspectives of Joe and Christopher. This approach could have made the story oddly emotionless, yet the opposite occurs as the audience is made to watch the horrific events with a sense of white Western guilt.

Hurt’s scenes towards the end are nothing short of greatness and he is well-supported by Dancy. Both actors are superbly supported by an under-stated script written by David Wolstencroft and directed by Michael Caton-Jones in an urgent documentary style.

Shooting Dogs shares a similar story to that of Hotel Rwanda, yet in my mind it is a much edgier and truthful experience. The climactic scenes in the school yard as Joe and Christopher are forced to confront the decision of whether to leave are extreme and harrowing. Nonetheless the story is ultimately about hope. This film is an absolute must-see and it is fair to state that the audience members were unanimously affected by this story.