HOTEL RWANDA

REVIEWED BY SHANNON H.

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: nudity, violence, language, thematic elements

Rated:

In April of 1994, the African country of Rwanda erupted into civil war between the majority Hutus and the minority Tutsis. The Belgians who colonized Rwanda gave the Tutsis power over the country. After the Belgians left, the Hutus were given control. As a result, they wanted revenge for the years of oppression by killing Tutsis and "traitor" Hutus. The genocidal murder of innocent people had affected one particular individual, a manager of a five-star hotel whose family had been targeted by Hutu militants. His story is that of Hotel Rwanda.

Hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) has a good life. He's married with three children, has a prosperous job, a nice home, and a chance to mingle with the upper class clientele who stay at his hotel. While driving through town with his valet, Dube, Paul manages to catch a radio broadcasting of Hutu propaganda, making harsh remarks about the minority Tutsis. Paul finds it disturbing to listen to and shuts off the radio while watching mobs of Hutus parading in the streets with rifles, flags, and megaphones. Soon, this propaganda is all over the radio airwaves and Paul finds himself shutting the radio off when it comes on. 

Even Paul's home is not safe from violence. While enjoying an evening at home, Paul witnesses his neighbors from across the street being pulled out of their house and beaten. He sighs heavily, knowing that there was nothing he could do to save them.  he genocide finally gets to Paul when his brother and sister-in-law, as well as neighbors and family friends are forced to flee. He gives them shelter at the Hotel des Milles Collines, where he serves as manager. Eventually, more Rwandan refugees start showing up at the hotel's front door, including orphans from a local monastery.  Paul realizes that his establishment has more refugees than rooms and tries to talk with U.N. Peacekeeper Colonel Oliver (Nick Nolte) to find them a place to stay but is unsuccessful. When Hutu militants threaten the sheltered refugees, Paul must bribe Gen. Bizimungu (an African military leader known for committing war crimes) to protect, him and his family as well as the innocent people staying at his hotel. What makes things worse is that the Hutus see Paul as a traitor (Paul is a Hutu by birth) by harboring Tutsis, especially his wife Tatiana (Sophie Okonedo).

Things go from bad to worse when Paul is running out of resources and things to bribe the general to protect them (he has given him money, fancy alcoholic drinks, jewelry, etc.) and the Hutu rebels are nearby. He tries to send his wife and children along with a few others to a refugee camp (all while searching for his nieces as his brother and sister-in-law are nowhere to be found) but after Hutus ambushed the U.N. trucks, they are forced to turn around and go back to the hotel. Now Paul is out of money, out of resources, and it is a matter of time before the Hutus close in on the hotel and kill him and everyone else.

There are various harsh profanities, a muffled f-word, and one abuse of deity. The violence is not prevalent but is graphic enough to merit the rating. There are scenes of people being beaten and shot, and refugees fleeing from Hutus who are constantly mowing them down with machine guns. Shots of dead bodies are seen on the front lawn of someone's home as well as in dirt roads. After stumbling over what may seem to be a bumpy road, Paul and his assistant realize that they were running over dead refugees that were murdered by Hutus. There is brief female nudity from Tutsis who have been abused and raped by Hutu militants (it isn't graphic). 

From Sunday School to church, we have all heard of the story of the Good Samaritan, an individual who gave aid and shelter to a man who was beaten and left for dead. It was a parable that Jesus told to illustrate how we should help those who are desperately in need. Paul Rusesabagina was a Good Samaritan, reaching out to the poor Rwandan refugees fleeing their homes. What Oskar Schindler did for the Jews during the Holocaust and what Sojourner Truth did for 300 slaves during the American Civil War, Paul helped save over 1200 Tutsi and Hutu peoples from oppression and murder. This film teaches us that people, both ordinary and extraordinary, can make a difference. Christ was put on a wooden cross for the sins of mankind because we, as humans, cannot save ourselves from sin. In a way, Paul Rusesabagina is sort of a Christ figure, sacrificing his finances and resources as well as his own life to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves. 

Hotel Rwanda is a heart-wrenching film.  I knew little about the genocide in Rwanda and even after I saw this film, I still know little about it but now I have an idea, albeit a vague one, of what life must've been like for these people, to live day by day, hoping that they would live to see the next morning. Don Cheadle is perfect as the kind-hearted hotel manager who opened his arms to those in need.  It was not easy watching this movie and from watching the DVD extras, Cheadle admitted that it wasn't easy to do certain scenes. I nearly broke down in the end. It made me think about how life is precious and how easily it can be taken away. It also made me thank God that I live in a country where genocidal violence is unheard of. I would recommend this film to Christians because it challenged me to count my blessings and possibly, to make a difference in the life of someone who needs help.