Pushing the Elephant

Rose Mapendo, like so many other Banyamulenge Tutsis in war-torn Congo, ended up in a death camp with her children. There, her husband was executed within earshot of the family. Each night, the guards killed a few prisoners at random. Certain to die, Rose was rescued, at a horrible price, and has been living in the United States for the past 10 years. There, she helps Congolese immigrants, speaks at UN Commissions and other events, and raises her 10 children. Her daughter Nangabire, with whom Rose is reunited in the film after leaving her with her grandparents 13 years ago in Congo, is in particular need of attention. She doesn't speak English and is having trouble in her new surroundings. What's more, Nangabire's fresh traumas awaken old memories of Rose's own survival strategies. \i Pushing the Elephant \i0 highlights Rose's work for refugees and peace in Congo, but the emphasis is on the Mapendos' family life, brought to the screen in an intimate fashion. The straight observations and slice-of-life atmosphere allow debuting directors Elizabeth Mandel and Beth Davenport to present potentially heavy material in a lighthearted manner.