Recent Posts
Topics
- 1..2..3..4..5..6..7..8..9
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
- H
- I
- J
- K
- L
- M
- N
- O
- P
- Q
- R
- S
- T
- U
- Uncategorized
- V
- W
- X
- Y
- Z

Hotel Rwanda

Posted by: Luna on Wednesday, December 22nd, 2004

This is truly one of the most compelling and inspiring films
ever made. Directed by George Terry, starring Don Cheadle, Nick Nolte,
and Sophie Okonedo. Based on a true story, in 1994, one of the most
horrific genocides occurred in Rwanda where nearly 1 million Tutsis were
murdered by the Hutus. Hotel Rwanda talks about real life hero, hotel
manager Paul Rusesabagina, who fiercely protected his family and found the
courage to save more than 1200 people from the same fate by sheltering them
in his hotel while the rest of the world closed their eyes and ignored their
pleas for help.

* Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) with his wife,
Tatiana (Sophie Okonedo), and one of their daughters stick together amid the
madness

* Paul’s family and friends stick together as they are
being taken by the Hutu military.

* Paul is forced to bribe this Hutu military general
to save his family and friends’ lives.

When UN turned their backs on them, Paul used his connections and cunning to
smooth talk and outsmart his enemies while struggling to keep his family
safe and keeping a calm facade even though many people around him were
getting killed. With help from Colonel Oliver (Nick Nolte), he was
able to make a difference. He is a true hero in every sense of the
word.

* A tearful and heartbreaking scene as Paul is
separated from his family. He had sent them away to save their lives
while he stays behind to help the remaining people.

Everything was captured perfectly. From the hatred and brutal violence
to the panic and terror to courage and hope, nothing was sugar-coated and
rightly so. The images and emotions were so vivid and raw, we can only
imagine what it must have felt like. The director did an awesome job
of reconstructing a horrifying part of African history. Don Cheadle
gave a magnificent performance as the good man who opened his arms and heart
to save innocent people.

* Paul gets more supplies from his "friend", George (Hakeem
Kae-Kazim). In a chilling scene, George coldly vows to wipe out all
the Tutsis. Paul tells him he can’t believe he would do that and
George replies with "Why not? Why not? We’re already halfway
there".

* Paul and Tatiana share a brief moment of relief as
they have been taken to the refugee camp where a bus is waiting to take them
away.

Highlight(s) of the movie: Everything!

Official Website:

http://www.mgm.com/ua/hotelrwanda/

Starring: Don Cheadle (Paul Rusesabagina), Sophie Okonedo (Tatiana Rusesabagina), Nick Nolte (Colonel Oliver), Joaquin Phoenix (Jack), Desmond Dube (Dube), David O’Hara (David)

Paul’s hotel became a refuge from the Hutu military. He was able to save nearly 1300 Tutsis from death using clever ploys, bribes, and smooth-talking. Paul bribes and tricks the Rwandan police officer into thinking he is on the American black list and will be hunted down if he doesn’t help stop the war. Paul rushes back to the hotel only to find it invaded by the Hutus. Luckily, his family was still alive. With help from Colonel Oliver, Paul, his family, and the rest of the Tutsis transfer to a refugee camp protected by Colonel Oliver’s officers. Along the way, they get attacked again by the Hutus, but the Rwandan police shoot and kill them all. Paul and Tatiana finally finds their two nieces at the camp, but her brother and wife are nowhere to be found. Paul, his family, their 2 nieces, and a handful of other orphan children walk back to the bus (where they were going to be taken out of Rwanda). In the end notes (before the credits), we find out that Paul had saved the lives of 1268 people when he sheltered them in his hotel, Paul, Tatiana, their 3 children, and 2 nieces now live in Belgium, Tatiana’s brother and wife were never found, a Rwandan police officer and George were convicted of war crimes, nearly 1 million people died from the Rwandan genocide, and the rebels finally pushed the militant groups back in the jungle, ending the genocide by July 1994.

Personal comments about this movie?
I must say this is one of the most powerful and compelling films I’ve seen since Schindler’s List. The director, George Terry, did a fine job on constructing the film to educate the public about the horrible massacre that happened in 1994. The brutal violence and the emotions were all so vivid and raw that you can only imagine what it must’ve been like for the Rwandan people.

Don Cheadle’s performance as the courageous hero was absolutely phenomenal. His was a heartwrenching and touching performance as he struggled internally to protect his family and the people at his hotel while also witnessing brutal murders around him and smooth-talking his way out of situations and bribing the corrupted Rwandan police. The film would not have been as good without him.

One of the truest lines said in the movie that really hits home is when Paul (Cheadle) asks Jack (Joaquin Phoenix) why wouldn’t anybody intervene and Jack replies with “Well, you know, people will watch this on TV and say ‘it’s terrible’, and then go right on eating their dinner”…

One of the most heartwrenching scenes was when the UN took all the tourists away, but turned their backs and ignored the cries and pleas of the Rwandan people. Another was when Paul broke down and cried after seeing thousands of dead bodies on one of the roads. There were many more heartbreaking scenes, but this is just to name a couple.

I hope this film wins all the awards it deserves for the actors, supporting actors, director, screenplay, and picture. This is not a movie to be missed. Definitely a MUST-SEE for everyone!

Want to know more?
Read more about this film at The Internet Movie Database.