Hotel Rwanda

Ratings : * Avoidable ** Average *** Good **** Must Watch

The film Hotel Rwanda, set in 1994, is based on the genocide in Rwanda, in which millions died due to an abusive government and a non-intervening outside world. In the film, tensions between the Hutu and Tutsi people lead to a civil war in which the Tutsis are massacred for their former rule over the nation. Paul Rusabagina (portrayed by Don Cheadle), the manager of Sabena Hôtel des Mille Collines, is torn between the sides, as he is Hutu while his wife, Tatiana (Okonedo), is Tutsi, a relationship that has him deemed a traitor by fellow Hutu, including George Rutaganda, a supplier of items to the hotel and Hutu extremist who unsuccessfully presses Paul to join the Interahamwe, an extremist anti-Tutsi group.

Upon the eve of the civil war, Paul’s neighbors and family look to him for leadership, and with the sacking of his own home, he must deliver this group from the ruthless Hutu who are determined to wipe out the entirety of the Tutsis. After bartering with a high-ranking officer for the safety of his friends and family, Paul brings them to his hotel. Over time, more refugees flood into the hotel, as the UN's refugee camp has become either too crowded or too dangerous to journey to. With time, the hotel becomes overcrowded, and Paul must handle diverting the Hutu soldiers, caring for the refugees, and maintaining the hotel.

The UN Peacekeeping forces, led by Colonel Oliver (Nick Nolte), is present as well, but despite Oliver's constant attempts to help Paul, his sympathy towards the refugees, and his disdain for the non-caring world powers, the forces are ineffectual against the Interhamwe (as evidenced by their willingness to murder UN soldiers).

As the Interhamwe advance on the hotel, the stress begins to take its toll on Paul and his family. The UN forces attempt to lead an escape for several of the refugees, including Paul's family, but are turned back after an altercation with the Interhamwe. In a last ditch effort to save the refugees, Paul speaks Hutu army general, Augustin Bizimun gu (Fana Mokoena) and attempts to blackmail him with threats of being tried as a war criminal with no hope of salvation beyond Paul's testimony, which he will only give in response to the safe passage of the refugees to the UN refugee camp. Bizimungu agrees and they return to the hotel, only to find it under siege. Bizimungu's forces bring an end to the chaos as Paul frantically looks for his wife and family, whom he had earlier advised to jump from the roof of the hotel should anything go wrong. After several minutes of searching, Paul finds them hiding in a bathroom and they and the refugees leave in a UN convoy. Despite a brief moment of panic wherein the Hutu approach the convoy, ready to strike, the convoy reaches its destination behind rebel lines, ensuring the safety of Paul and the refugees. As the film concludes, Paul finds his two young nieces, whose parents had been slain earlier in the film, and takes them along with his family on a bus departing the country.

My Rating : ***

Genre : Drama

Director : Terry George

Cast : Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Ahmed Panchbaya, Nick Nolte, Jean Reno