BUIES CREEK — To commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, Campbell University will present the documentary “Rising From Ashes” Wednesday, April 9, at 7 p.m. in the Lundy-Fetterman School of Business’ Lynch Auditorium. The film’s director, T.C. Johnstone, will be in attendance and participate in a Q&A following the showing of the documentary.
The Rwandan genocide that began on April 7, 1994, lasted four months and led to the deaths of at least 500,000 people and perhaps as many as 1 million.
“Rising From Ashes” follows Jonathan “Jock” Boyer, the first American to compete in the Tour de France, as he helps the first Rwandan National Cycling team in their six-year journey to compete in the Olympics. As their strength and confidence grows, the riders of Team Rwanda give their fellow citizens a vision of something greater than themselves and their history: hope for a future.
The documentary has been hailed as “a masterful tribute to unity, selflessness and redemption in spite of all odds.” It’s narrated and executive produced by actor Forest Whitaker, who also starred in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” and “The Last King of Scotland.”
The “Rising From Ashes” trailer follows: