Muganga, The One Who Treats, the newly released urgent and deeply human film exploring courage, resilience, and survival, has officially launched in France to strong reviews and audience acclaim. Following its premiere in Paris and nationwide theatrical release on 24 September, the film has been praised by leading outlets including Le Monde and Cineuropa for its emotional power and authenticity. 

Directed by Marie-Hélène Roux and co-written with Jean-René Lemoine, Muganga tells the story of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Denis Mukwege and the women whose strength and voices remain at the heart of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s ongoing struggle. Through their stories, the film sheds light on one of Africa’s most urgent humanitarian crises while paying tribute to the enduring spirit of survival and hope. 

According to Marie-Hélène Roux, Director, “My vision for Muganga was to create a cinema of emotion, one that embraces both silence and intensity, while encapsulating the complexity of the human experience. I wanted to share with the world what these extraordinary people have done in DRC with my friend Jean-René, and I believe we achieved that. Seeing this vision come to life here in Paris, I’m met with a great amount of emotion and I’m ready for this film to spark meaningful conversations about what women in the global south are experiencing.” 

The film’s French debut has been met with significant attention. Le Monde hailed Muganga as “a committed work that denounces the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in the DRC,” while Cineuropa called it “a poignant tribute to these broken women and to the man devoted to his conscience.”

The film won three Valois awards at the Angoulême Francophone Film Festival, , including Best Actor (Isaach De Bankolé), the Audience Prize, and the Student Jury Prize. 

It was also screened to a select audience of UK industry and NGO leaders recently, with the attendance of Dr. Mukwege, the film team and producer Angelina Jolie, who introduced the film. Jolie and Dr. Mukwege have known and worked alongside each other for over a decade, campaigning for an end to impunity of rape and sexual violence as weapons of war. 

Jolie, who first met survivors of rape in the DRC in 2013, paid tribute to Dr. Mukwege’s steadfast work on behalf of women and children in his country, calling him “a healer of minds and bodies.” She said: 

“Marie-Hélène Roux’s MUGANGA, The One Who Treats, is an urgent and powerful film. I am honored to join the film’s team in amplifying the voices of Congolese survivors and the essential work of Dr. Denis Mukwege, one of the greatest advocates of our time fighting to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war in the DRC and globally.” 

Writing in 2022 about the prevalence of warzone rape in conflict zones around the world, Jolie noted: “Governments and international efforts come and go. Those who remain and who fight and struggle for decades are local people…the survivors of rape, and people such as…Dr Denis Mukwege. He has treated tens of thousands of survivors of rape, despite attacks on his life, for decades. If global leaders were willing to be even a fraction as brave and committed as Dr. Mukwege – and as survivors are – then we could perhaps finally find a way to meet this crime with the response it deserves.” 

Starring Isaach De Bankolé as Dr. Mukwege and Vincent Macaigne as Dr. Guy-Bernard Cadière, Muganga offers an unflinching look at sexual violence as a weapon of war while highlighting the resilience and humanity that endure despite unimaginable suffering. 

Financed by CANEX Creations Inc. (CCInc), a subsidiary of Afreximbank’s investment arm, the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA), financial partners on the production include Canal+, France 3 Cinéma, France Télévisions, CNC and Scope Pictures. The film reflects a pan-African and international collaboration that exemplifies the power of co-production in amplifying African stories worldwide. 

Osahon Akpata, CEO of CANEX Creations Inc., said: “At CANEX Creations, our mission is to ensure that African stories are not only told, but resonate on the global stage with the dignity, depth, and scale they deserve. Muganga is exactly the kind of project we are proud to support, one that amplifies the voices of survivors, honors the legacy of a modern-day African hero Dr. Mukwege, and demonstrates the power of African cinema. Through collaborations like this, we reaffirm our commitment to investing in African narratives and strengthening the structures that allow these stories to reach and move audiences everywhere.” 

At a moment when women’s and minority rights face mounting global challenges, the success of Muganga in France marks a vital step in spotlighting the fight against sexual violence and the humanitarian efforts transforming lives in the DRC. The film will continue its international rollout across festivals and special screenings in the months ahead.