Search - The Diary of Immaculee on DVD

An Incredible Story

Leslie Lewis Sword | Naples, FL USA | 09/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Immaculée's story captured my heart when I first heard her speak with Wayne Dyer last fall. I read her book and felt transformed. This movie adds another dimension to her amazing story, and I commend the filmmakers for such a clear and moving exposition of her experience.
The film has many great moments: when Immaculée goes back to the hollow shell of what was once her family's home, we can feel how overwhelming and sad it is. She calls to her young son to hold him--one of the few blood relatives she has left.
Yet Immaculée clearly has healed and moved on from the tragic circumstances of the genocide--and if this woman can forgive her family's killers, anyone can.
My favorite moment in the movie is when she talks about meeting one of these killers. "I'm so sorry" he says.
"Yes, I'm past all that, I forgive you." (And I believe her!) She goes on to say, "But what were you thinking? You used to be a human being! How could you do such a thing?"
Now, what I love about this, is that she clearly "loves the sinner, hates the sin"--Her forgiveness is not blind, it acknowlegdes that something happened that was not good, but she doesn't condemn the person who did it. How utterly incredible. It was as if she was asking him why he stole a car or something.
(PS his answer was that they told him they would make him rich, but in fact, he spent 11 years in jail and had lost everything once he got out.)
Anyway, I think Immaculée is amazing, incredible, inspiring, beautiful inside and out, and I'm so glad to have this film as another tribute to her incredible story.
I was there, actually, when they were shooting it! After hearing her speak the first time, I knew I wanted to do an acting project about her story. I went to another conference and got to meet her. (Wow!) When I learned that she would be going back to Rwanda to film this documentary, I invited myself along--I'm grateful the filmmakers let me stay!
Anyway, I love what they did with the material, and I'm inspired by this film. I highly recommend it, and I wish it every success."

Riveting, Extremely well-done

Current Events | USA | 07/24/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The film chronicles Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculee Ilibagiza as she returns to the scene of one of history's most horrific displays of inhumanity. The film is very well-done, taking the audience through the aftermath of incomprehensible brutality. Readers of Ms. Ilibagiza's book will be fascinated to see the bathroom where she and seven other women hid, to hear the interview with the Pastor who gave them shelter and to meet many other key figures in her book Left to Tell. I think the documentary is particulary impressive in that the director could easily have chosen to sensationalize this material, and instead presents the story in a straightforward manner. Very, very well done."

Immaculee's CD

P. Hammond | Portland, OR | 01/04/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This CD was interesting and enhances her book "Left to Tell" by actually visiting Rwanda, her homeland. However, I give it a low grade only because I was looking for more information on the spiritual elements of her heart-wrenching story. So by that measure, my expectations were not met. I can only say that the whole of her story -- the factual and spiritual -- as told in her book will live with me forever. Very powerful."

The Diary of Immaculee

Phyllis Bozek | Cherry Hill, NJ | 12/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was a fabulous documentary...very moving. It realistically depicted the atrocities and horrors yet was tastefully done. It personalized a monumental disaster and put a face and individual story to the genocide. This one woman's remembrance becomes a tribute to her strength and endurance and a lesson in humanity as she returns to her country so many years later. You feel as if she is in the room telling the story directly to you...the method of film-making adds to the depth of her poise and emotion. Highly recommended!!"