Small Country: An African Childhood is a French-Belgian drama film, directed by Eric Barbier and released in 2020. The movie is based on the novel "Small Country" by Gaël Faye. It follows the life of Gabriel, a child living in a comfortable ex-pat neighborhood in Burundi, who is forced to confront the realities of war and political instability when tensions from neighboring Rwanda spill over into his home country.
Gabriel is a happy-go-lucky kid who enjoys playing with his friends, exploring the countryside, and spending time with his little sister. His father is a French expatriate, and his mother is from Rwanda. Although Gabriel is aware of the political tensions in the region, he is too young to understand the gravity of the situation.
In 1993, tensions reach a boiling point when the Rwandan Genocide begins to spill over into Burundi. Gabriel's family finds themselves in grave danger as violence and chaos engulf their once peaceful country. Gabriel is forced to flee his home with his family, leaving behind everything he has ever known.
As the family tries to navigate their new life as refugees, Gabriel's innocence is shattered as he witnesses firsthand the trauma and violence of war. His family's struggle to survive becomes a powerful story of humanity and hope in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
Small Country: An African Childhood is a touching and poignant film that explores themes of loss, trauma, and resilience in the face of adversity. It is a heart-wrenching story of a child forced to grow up too fast, and a testament to the power of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable obstacles.
