Watch The Uncondemned

The Uncondemned is a powerful documentary film that explores one of the most significant trials in modern international law, the 1998 landmark case of Jean-Paul Akayesu. Akayesu was the mayor of a small Rwandan town during the 1994 genocide that took the lives of over 800,000 Tutsi people, and he was charged with genocide and crimes against humanity.

The film provides a comprehensive account of the legal battle to bring Akayesu to justice, as well as the tireless work done by the team of lawyers, activists, and survivors who were instrumental in the prosecution. The story is told through interviews with key figures involved in the case, as well as archival footage and reconstructions.

The film begins by providing an overview of the genocide itself, which was a brutal and horrific campaign of ethnic cleansing that lasted for months. The filmmakers interview several survivors of the genocide who recount their experiences and express their frustration at the lack of international response to the crisis.

The documentary then shifts its focus to the arrest of Akayesu, who was charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in 1997. This was an unprecedented move at the time, as no one had ever been brought to trial for these types of crimes. The filmmakers introduce us to Pierre-Richard Prosper, who was the lead prosecutor on the case, and who reflects on the challenges he faced in building a case against Akayesu.

One of the key challenges for Prosper was the lack of legal precedent for the charges he was bringing against Akayesu. He and his team had to navigate unfamiliar legal territory in order to establish their case. The film provides a detailed account of the legal strategy they employed, which involved using the testimony of survivors and witnesses to establish a pattern of widespread and systematic violence against the Tutsi people.

The Uncondemned also explores the personal toll that the trial took on those involved. Many of the survivors who testified at the trial had to relive the traumatic events of the genocide, which was incredibly difficult for them. The filmmakers interview Sara Darehshori, who was one of the lawyers on the case, and who speaks movingly about the emotional impact that the trial had on her.

Throughout the film, the importance of the trial is emphasized. The prosecution of Akayesu was a significant step forward for international justice, and it established important legal precedent for future cases of genocide and crimes against humanity. The filmmakers also highlight the role that activism played in bringing Akayesu to justice, and how grassroots efforts were essential in creating the political will necessary to prosecute someone for these crimes.

Overall, The Uncondemned is a powerful and engrossing documentary that sheds light on an important moment in the history of international justice. It is a tribute to the tireless work of those who brought Akayesu to trial, and an important reminder of the ongoing struggle for accountability and justice in the face of genocide and other atrocities.

The Uncondemned is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.5 and a MetaScore of 80.