The film was an Official Selection at the
2009 Cannes Film Festival, the winner of the Human Rights Watch's
Nestor Almendros Prize for courage in filmmaking, a nominee for the 2009
Gotham Best Documentary Award and the winner of the best documentary at Montreal Black Festival. The film has been shown at film festivals and universities around the world, including in Rwanda. It is rated 100% on
Rotten Tomatoes.
My Neighbor, My Killer is the feature length based on the
Gacaca Series, composed of three films that Anne Aghion made over the years in Rwanda, one of which - "
In Rwanda We Say…The Family That Does Not Speak Dies" - received an
Emmy Award. Reviews and public reception of
My Neighbor, My Killer highlight both the emotional power and analytical strength of the film. Nick Davis, a film critic, praises the documentary's observational style that allows the authentic experience of Rwandans to unfold naturally. However, he also criticizes how a lack of narration can make it difficult for viewers to grasp the larger historical context. An academic review by Violane Baraduc and Sahondra Limane emphasizes the thematic power of this film, such as its connection to the politics of language and memory. == Festivals ==