Matthew ShallueHotel Rwanda
Hotel Rwanda (2004)
Director: Terry George
Starring: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix
In 1994, following the assassination of the Hutu president, Rwanda fell into 100 days of chaos that left around 800,000 Tutsi and their sympathizers dead. This was one of the most extreme acts of genocide in history, and yet the Western world – for the most part – looked on dispassionately, and chose not to act. Hotel Rwanda explores how this could have happened, as we follow the story of Hutu hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) and his attempts to protect his family and countrymen.
Some very abridged history lessons are woven into Hotel Rwanda, in order to better understand the plot. The distinction between Hutus and Tutsis is explained as having been developed and deepened by the country’s Belgian colonizers. The Tutsi were often considered more attractive by the Belgians – taller, lighter skin, less broad noses – and owned more cattle. This alone gave them a more elevated status that was to generate an undercurrent of discontent. Following Rwanda’s independence, the more numerous Hutus took power from the Tutsis, and each side developed violent extremist groups that circled one another with increasing tension. When the Hutu president of Rwanda and the president of Burundi were killed when their jet was shot down with missiles, Tutsi rebels were blamed, sparking a Hutu call to rid the country of the ‘Tutsi cockroaches.’
Although not openly critical of Hutu methods, Paul Rusesabagina finds himself in a situation in which he can help his Tutsi wife, neighbours, and an increasing number of refugees by turning the four star hotel he manages into a makeshift refugee camp. Ingrained hotel policy drives Paul to try to maintain the high standard of service and quality at the hotel, although the corridors are littered with sleeping bodies and his staff initially revolts against him. Throughout the ordeal, Paul considers the situation to be temporary; as he is certain that the world will see what is happening in Rwanda and step in to assist. When Paul sees some harrowing footage shot by an American journalist, Jack (Joaquin Phoenix), and expresses relief that the world will now intervene, Jack offers a chillingly truthful reply: “I think if people see this footage they'll say, ‘oh my God that's horrible,’ and then go on eating their dinners.” Paul sees the truth in this comment when the United States and Europe begin evacuating their own nationals, while leaving Rwandan nations and the ever-growing number of Tutsi orphans behind.
While Hotel Rwanda does tend towards emotionally provocative scenes, this can’t be considered a fault when the subject matter and purpose are taken into account. The sight of children’s bodies littering the ground, or of Westerners preparing to leave while those at risk are forced to stay behind, are confronting, but could not possibly be labeled manipulative; because these events took place while the decision-makers in the rest of the world shrugged and turned away.
Director: Terry George
Starring: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix
Photo courtesy of Google. Image may be copyrighted.
In 1994, following the assassination of the Hutu president, Rwanda fell into 100 days of chaos that left around 800,000 Tutsi and their sympathizers dead. This was one of the most extreme acts of genocide in history, and yet the Western world – for the most part – looked on dispassionately, and chose not to act. Hotel Rwanda explores how this could have happened, as we follow the story of Hutu hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) and his attempts to protect his family and countrymen.
Some very abridged history lessons are woven into Hotel Rwanda, in order to better understand the plot. The distinction between Hutus and Tutsis is explained as having been developed and deepened by the country’s Belgian colonizers. The Tutsi were often considered more attractive by the Belgians – taller, lighter skin, less broad noses – and owned more cattle. This alone gave them a more elevated status that was to generate an undercurrent of discontent. Following Rwanda’s independence, the more numerous Hutus took power from the Tutsis, and each side developed violent extremist groups that circled one another with increasing tension. When the Hutu president of Rwanda and the president of Burundi were killed when their jet was shot down with missiles, Tutsi rebels were blamed, sparking a Hutu call to rid the country of the ‘Tutsi cockroaches.’
Although not openly critical of Hutu methods, Paul Rusesabagina finds himself in a situation in which he can help his Tutsi wife, neighbours, and an increasing number of refugees by turning the four star hotel he manages into a makeshift refugee camp. Ingrained hotel policy drives Paul to try to maintain the high standard of service and quality at the hotel, although the corridors are littered with sleeping bodies and his staff initially revolts against him. Throughout the ordeal, Paul considers the situation to be temporary; as he is certain that the world will see what is happening in Rwanda and step in to assist. When Paul sees some harrowing footage shot by an American journalist, Jack (Joaquin Phoenix), and expresses relief that the world will now intervene, Jack offers a chillingly truthful reply: “I think if people see this footage they'll say, ‘oh my God that's horrible,’ and then go on eating their dinners.” Paul sees the truth in this comment when the United States and Europe begin evacuating their own nationals, while leaving Rwandan nations and the ever-growing number of Tutsi orphans behind.
While Hotel Rwanda does tend towards emotionally provocative scenes, this can’t be considered a fault when the subject matter and purpose are taken into account. The sight of children’s bodies littering the ground, or of Westerners preparing to leave while those at risk are forced to stay behind, are confronting, but could not possibly be labeled manipulative; because these events took place while the decision-makers in the rest of the world shrugged and turned away.
