Bazigaga (2022)

The year is 1994, in Rwanda–and the genocide is destroying families at an exponential rate. As it continues to threaten a pastor, Karembe (Ery Nzaramba), and his daughter, they seek shelter with a mysterious and powerful woman named Bazigaga (Elaine Umuhire). She does all that she can to protect them from the powers that be–but even someone as strong as her can’t always rectify these situations.

First thing’s first, it’s impossible to ignore the fact that Bazigaga is filmed in a language with which I’m unfamiliar with AND the subtitles are also in a language with which I’m unfamiliar. There was no way, short of plugging each and every word into Google Translate, that I was going to be able to understand the words coming out of these individuals’ mouths. I had to rely heavily on the acting to get any sense of what was occurring, and to some degree that was a good thing. Surely it hindered my ability to be fully aware of the plot (I actually had to conduct a bit of research to be able to fully understand the storyline), but it allowed me to better understand the beautiful acting present throughout the course of Bazigaga. For the latter, that worked wonders for the film and my experience watching it.

Umuhire is so brilliantly talented, and her ability to convey emotion through the tone of her voice and her expressions is simply impeccable. She’s not just the right person to lead this film, but she’s the perfect person to lead Bazigaga (not to mention the fact that she looks identical to the real life Bazigaga). She is the embodiment of all emotion, and she exudes it carefully, methodically, and effectively. Every ounce of emotion present in Bazigaga stems from her, effectively making her the catalyst for the film’s success. She breathes life into the other actors, characters, scenarios–and she is the lifeblood of the entire film. To some degree my inability to understand her words strengthened her ability to convey emotion, and it made her performance all the more memorable.

Much like the actors, the setting, sound, cinematography, and more had to step up their game and provide a sense of understanding for viewers unable to understand the language. Darkness permeates the set, the score creates and sustains a somber tone, and perfectly calculated camera angles create a sense of unease and intensity throughout. Nothing about this film causes it to struggle (other than the language barrier of course), and it all works together to create a charming, passionate, and cohesive film. Bazigaga sees everything come together with grace–and viewers are instantly and perpetually transported to a world of chaos, pain, suffering, and exceptional power.

In a film that should have been nearly impossible to understand instantly turns a corner and reels in viewers. The world is easily able to see the prowess and the talent present in each and every cast and crew member who took part in Bazigaga. Umuhire is incredible, and she possesses a talent that mirrors some of the best that I’ve ever seen, and she drives the film forward–giving it great meaning and ultimately providing it success. Nearly everything about the film speaks to viewers, and the emotion present in each and every scene, by way of a number of methods, reaches them with great ease. Bazigaga overcomes what could have potentially ruined the film–and it never looks back.

Written & Directed by Jo Ingabire Moys.

Starring Elaine Umuhire, Ery Nzaramba, Roger Noёl Ineza, Maély Mahavande, etc.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10