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Casting Roy was surprised to have been offered the role but didn’t wait very long before accepting. His main reason for agreeing was his admiration and respect for Dallaire himself. And the appreciation that if he didn’t do it, the part would likely have gone to an American. “General Dallaire is a guy from east Montreal. You couldn’t have Harrison Ford or Bruce Willis playing him!” Dallaire says
he was both surprised and flattered at the announcement that Dupuis, the
iconic Quebec thespian, would be portraying him in
Shake Hands With the Devil.
“When they mentioned him, I had an immediate positive reaction, because
of his eyes. These are eyes that speak. You sense, not just his
professionalism as an actor, but his inquisitive nature and
intelligence. I know Roy has been very involved with saving rivers, with
the environment, something that shows there’s a depth there.” As well as his intense briefing sessions with the general in the chapel of St-Jean Military College, Roy had access to 7 hours’ of tapes recorded by the soldiers under Dallaire’s command. From these he was able to study his gestures and way of walking and talking. On the set It takes Roy 3 times as long to learn English lines than French. He seemed to be in character all day, quietly walking around set memorizing his lines. He often sat alone, looking troubled. His crew were cautious when talking to him because "he is Dallaire" . |
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The uniform that Roy wore throughout
the film was actually Dallaire’s. Joyce Schure, the film’s costume
designer, says Dallaire donated not only his summer dress uniform, but
also insignia, medals and belts to the shoot because he wanted the movie
to be as accurate as possible. “But not his famous blue beret - that had
been lost along the way.” The only part of the uniform that wasn’t used was the shirt; the actor was too big so the insignia were sewn on to a new one. And Schure admits some adjustments had to be made to the rest of the uniform — not so much because the men differ in size, but because, as Schure puts it, military uniforms are “not designed for actors on camera, they’re not necessarily the most flattering cut.” The rest of the film’s uniforms had to be sourced from army surplus because the UN’s uniforms have changed since the events of the movie. Dallaire also lent the production a sculpture that was on his office desk throughout the period. |
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Double Act
Roméo on Roy:
For all the bond between the two men, Dallaire’s dress style never managed to rub off on Roy, whose wardrobe choices for the gala screenings seemed perversely casual. Thoughts on Rwanda "I know more about the world we live
in, about other realities, about Africa. When I listen to the news about
Darfur, I am more aware emotionally of what’s going on. […] Africa will
never leave me from now on. You look at someone like Dallaire, someone
who should be out of hope, who is doing a lot of things, you have to
stay positive, do what you can." The DVD The DVD (released 28 January 2008)
contained a signed photograph of Roy and the general. The “Making of” documentary is shot in
English.
From the Frontline speaks to Robert
Adams, the guy who filmed the ‘Making of’ …. |
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This photograph was printed in the 11th August 2006 edition of UK broadsheet The Daily Telegraph in a story entitled 'Film reveals grim Rwanda images that haunt general'. Unfortunately the caption indicates that it’s a picture of General Dallaire, not Roy playing the part. Director Roger Spottiswoode gets a name check in the article, but Roy is not mentioned. So much for international recognition! | |