Hotel Rwanda (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Hotel Rwanda', a drama directed by Terry George, tells the true story of Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), the manager of the luxurious Hotel Milles Collines. He's a man who fought insurmountable odds to save as many people as he could from a homeland ravished by genocide & massacre. Paul demonstrates amazing courage by saving over 1,000 refugees by secretly sheltering them in his hotel. Now, his friends, his family, & himself are vulnerable to the Hutu extremists that are murdering helpless Tutsis. Call this a socio-political melodrama. Millions are being slaughtered, but this film focuses on Paul & his strife; it's riveting.
The Hutus took over Rwanda in 1994, their main goal was to exterminate the Tutsis! With America busy enough to turn a blind eye to Rwanda's problems, Paul has to take a stringent stand. Already under the radar for opening his hotel to the masses, he's also susceptible because he's a Hutu who has married a Tutsi (Sophie Okonedo). At first, he's able to bribe some soldiers to keep his Tutsis safe (lending generous amounts of money, tobacco, whiskey & wine to cool the killings). He even makes his employees act as if the hotel were still inhabited by whites and other Hutus. But while the supplies run out, so does Paul's luck.
Once the militia realizes what Paul is doing, how much longer can he harbor these innocent victims? Never asking for help, what further measures must Paul resort to? Can Paul & his loved ones escape barbaric death? Can a news photographer & First Aid Nurse (Joaquin Phoenix & Cara Seymour) lend a helpful hand in any way possible? Will a U.N. commander (Nick Nolte) be able to stop the bloodshed? Where in the Hell are the Americans & other privileged countries when they're needed most!? The whole situation is unbelievably, excruciatingly dire.
While 'Hotel Rwanda' profiles a small story within the big picture, it's unfathomable to truly understand the atrocities that occurred in Rwanda some 10 yrs. ago. Really, it's like a 2nd Holocaust wreaked havoc on another part of the world. Within 90 days, somewhere around 1,000,000 people were butchered ... unreal. The depiction of true terror & uncertainty is handled well here. I found myself frantically biting my fingernails. How could the local militia(s) do this to people from their own country? Paul Rusesabagina does well to create a safe haven for the Tutsis. And he does well to finesse the soldiers, but once they discover his wife to be Tutsi, all bets are off. Heck, even employees in his hotel turn on him when they find out that Tatiana & his kids are 'cockroaches' (as they call them).
I won't divulge both the heroic & horrific things that occur in the movie, but I'll say that it's worth a trip to the theater to see it unfold. This personal story is touching, sincere, & brutally honest. At various points, you'll be happy, nervous, scared, enraged, enthralled, and appalled; but it's worth it in the end. I wish the audience (and I) could have been given a thorough prologue describing the enormity of Rwanda's political struggles. In any case, Don Cheadle is fantastic as Paul. Though he's slight in stature, he'll still knock you out by way of the accent with which he speaks, the restraint in his demeanor, & his vulnerability. Sophie Okonedo also stands out as his loyal wife. The plot is by-the-numbers. And though I wasn't completely bowled over, I couldn't help but be moved by 'Hotel Rwanda'.
The Hutus took over Rwanda in 1994, their main goal was to exterminate the Tutsis! With America busy enough to turn a blind eye to Rwanda's problems, Paul has to take a stringent stand. Already under the radar for opening his hotel to the masses, he's also susceptible because he's a Hutu who has married a Tutsi (Sophie Okonedo). At first, he's able to bribe some soldiers to keep his Tutsis safe (lending generous amounts of money, tobacco, whiskey & wine to cool the killings). He even makes his employees act as if the hotel were still inhabited by whites and other Hutus. But while the supplies run out, so does Paul's luck.
Once the militia realizes what Paul is doing, how much longer can he harbor these innocent victims? Never asking for help, what further measures must Paul resort to? Can Paul & his loved ones escape barbaric death? Can a news photographer & First Aid Nurse (Joaquin Phoenix & Cara Seymour) lend a helpful hand in any way possible? Will a U.N. commander (Nick Nolte) be able to stop the bloodshed? Where in the Hell are the Americans & other privileged countries when they're needed most!? The whole situation is unbelievably, excruciatingly dire.
While 'Hotel Rwanda' profiles a small story within the big picture, it's unfathomable to truly understand the atrocities that occurred in Rwanda some 10 yrs. ago. Really, it's like a 2nd Holocaust wreaked havoc on another part of the world. Within 90 days, somewhere around 1,000,000 people were butchered ... unreal. The depiction of true terror & uncertainty is handled well here. I found myself frantically biting my fingernails. How could the local militia(s) do this to people from their own country? Paul Rusesabagina does well to create a safe haven for the Tutsis. And he does well to finesse the soldiers, but once they discover his wife to be Tutsi, all bets are off. Heck, even employees in his hotel turn on him when they find out that Tatiana & his kids are 'cockroaches' (as they call them).
I won't divulge both the heroic & horrific things that occur in the movie, but I'll say that it's worth a trip to the theater to see it unfold. This personal story is touching, sincere, & brutally honest. At various points, you'll be happy, nervous, scared, enraged, enthralled, and appalled; but it's worth it in the end. I wish the audience (and I) could have been given a thorough prologue describing the enormity of Rwanda's political struggles. In any case, Don Cheadle is fantastic as Paul. Though he's slight in stature, he'll still knock you out by way of the accent with which he speaks, the restraint in his demeanor, & his vulnerability. Sophie Okonedo also stands out as his loyal wife. The plot is by-the-numbers. And though I wasn't completely bowled over, I couldn't help but be moved by 'Hotel Rwanda'.