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Beyond the Gates

Name: Beyond the Gates
Genre: Drama, History
Released: March 9, 2007
Duration: 115 min
Rating: 71
Cast: Hugh Dancy, John Hurt

2007

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 18 Critics

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 16 Ratings

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BEYOND THE GATES

Movie Details & Credits

Renaissance Films | Release Date: March 9, 2007 | Unrated

Starring: Hugh Dancy, John Hurt

Summary: Based on true events and filmed in Rwanda with genocide survivors as cast and crew, Beyond the Gates tells their shared story of humanity in the most inhumane circumstances. This is a film about the choices we make when we are free to choose. (IFC Films)

Director: Michael Caton-Jones

Genre(s): Drama, History

Rating: Unrated

Runtime: 115 min

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Awards & Rankings

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Ken Fox

Caton-Jones' refusal to pull back on showing exactly what happened to the 800,000 Rwandans who were murdered that spring means that strong stomachs and even stronger nerves are required, but the film demands to be seen by anyone attempting to grasp how -- and just how quickly -- genocide can occur. Read full review

Kevin Crust

Tense and gut-wrenching, Beyond the Gates is a horrifying story told with grace and compassion. Read full review

Michael Phillips

If Beyond the Gates were merely a well-intentioned bore, the reality might seem jarring. As is, the coda fits and feels like the only possible ending--proof that surviving to help tell the story of a genocidal nightmare is the best revenge. Read full review

Ruthe Stein

Powerful and moving. Read full review

Kyle Smith

The film is occasionally heavy-handed, and the priest character is almost absurdly saintly, but there is an awful power to scenes such as one in which the Europeans are evacuated on trucks. Read full review

Ella Taylor

Though hobbled by its anxious impulse to teach history to an audience that by now surely knows the basic contours of Rwanda's tragedy, the script apportions blame where it belongs (on high), while leaving smaller fry--including an admirably un-cute BBC journalist--dangling, however sympathetically, on the hook. Read full review

Marc Savlov

Beyond the Gates bears witness to the worst of the worst, but these days, and far more importantly, so does YouTube. Read full review

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User Reviews

SeanH.

Mar 16, 2007

It is one of the most intense, riveting and honest pieces of cinema I have ever seen. I mean no disrespect towards "Hotel Rwanda" which is a very strong and important film, but I can tell you that it simply pales in comparison to "Beyond the Gates" which was shot in Rwanda at the actual It is one of the most intense, riveting and honest pieces of cinema I have ever seen. I mean no disrespect towards "Hotel Rwanda" which is a very strong and important film, but I can tell you that it simply pales in comparison to "Beyond the Gates" which was shot in Rwanda at the actual locations in and around Kigali.… Expand

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JohnL.

May 5, 2008

As a Missionary, I was deeply touched by this movie. The sadness of how humanity treats humanity, and how no one stepped in to try to stop it... I recommend it to all who have never set foot in other countries, and to all who need a shock awakening as to what is going on elsewhere in the As a Missionary, I was deeply touched by this movie. The sadness of how humanity treats humanity, and how no one stepped in to try to stop it... I recommend it to all who have never set foot in other countries, and to all who need a shock awakening as to what is going on elsewhere in the world besides here in the US. A fine depiction of both the Depravity of Man and the inability/unwillingness of governments to do what they ought to...unless there is something at stake for them to gain or prevent the loss of. A staunch reminder that Man's ways don't work, and that while God permits us to do these kinds of things to ourselves and our fellow humans, His ways are way so above ours and are what is needed in this world, if we would only permit Him to operate through us to effect the necessary changes. Think of it as a Prelude to/indication of what the tiniest bit of the coming Tribulation will be like, except the Tribulation will be on a MUCH larger scale and will be much much worse!!… Expand

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vluk

Jan 13, 2019

The main question of the movie is "We are given our time. For what?". One minute I wanted to stop watching. I really paused it - probably, these were emotions the authors expected. But in some hours I realized I had to go on. In the end, I got stunned. I have never watched a better movie.The main question of the movie is "We are given our time. For what?". One minute I wanted to stop watching. I really paused it - probably, these were emotions the authors expected. But in some hours I realized I had to go on. In the end, I got stunned. I have never watched a better movie. Please try it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

RogerO.

Mar 8, 2007

A profoundly moving and beautiful film that gets right to the point in a real-life depiction of a horrendous genocide build up. It shows you what really happened while delivering excellent acting performances. Not afraid to tell you the truth, and always in your face to show it. One of the A profoundly moving and beautiful film that gets right to the point in a real-life depiction of a horrendous genocide build up. It shows you what really happened while delivering excellent acting performances. Not afraid to tell you the truth, and always in your face to show it. One of the best films of March.… Expand

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LindaN.

Mar 8, 2007

John Hurt is magnetic as a Catholic priest running a school where terrified Tutsi have taken refuge, while Hugh Dancy, as a naive teacher, represents white commitment to black Africa at its most impotent and unreliable.

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[Anonymous]

Mar 8, 2007

I have studied both genocide, Rwanda, and cinema and I have seen "Hotel Rwanda" and the famous PBS documentary on the autocracies. This movie is well-made, smart, well-acted, and very entertaining. It is mostly accurate and defintly brutal in its honesty about a matter that was nothing but I have studied both genocide, Rwanda, and cinema and I have seen "Hotel Rwanda" and the famous PBS documentary on the autocracies. This movie is well-made, smart, well-acted, and very entertaining. It is mostly accurate and defintly brutal in its honesty about a matter that was nothing but brutal. However, dispite the films innocent goodness, it is somewhat stupid. It tries so hard to educated you, as if you knew nothing, and instead achives a repetitive, dry one-perspective white story. The film gives you content, but no real backround of a situation. The greatest failure of the film, written by David Wolstencroft, is its inability to enter into the lives of the Rwandans, Tutsi and Hutu alike. The movie never moves beyond the tragic facts to show us the human face of either victims or perpetrators. All we get are white people shaking their heads and cursing Western governments.… Expand

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TonyB.

Mar 8, 2007

A Film that tries too hard at being like honest and moving and instead falls to the hollywood stereotypes and political obsessions like so many africa-based films these days do. Entertaining, well acted, and at times powerful, but overall it comes up empty and brings little light to a A Film that tries too hard at being like honest and moving and instead falls to the hollywood stereotypes and political obsessions like so many africa-based films these days do. Entertaining, well acted, and at times powerful, but overall it comes up empty and brings little light to a done-with issue that has already been covered. A box office flop and a dull film. 3.2/10.… Expand

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