Hotel Rwanda

Review by Tim Basham

In the HBO movie Dress To Kill, comedian Eddie Izzard explains that Cambodian leader Pol Pot got away with murdering 1.7 million people.

A number so large “we can’t even deal with it,” says Izzard.

He explains that because Pol Pot killed his own people “we’re sort of fine with that.” Sadly, the sentiment appears to be confirmed in the film Hotel Rwanda.

The movie is set in 1994 during the country’s 100 days of genocide in which more than a million people were killed. Izzard is right—a number like that is hard to deal with. So, director Terry George narrowed the event to a scale more easily digestible, but still very difficult to comprehend.

Paul Rusesabagina (played by Don Cheadle) manages Rwanda’s luxury hotel Milles Collines. A centuries-old dispute between two cultures — Hutus and Tutsis — comes to a head when violence erupts. Armed with machetes, Hutu mobs begin to indiscriminately kill Tutsis by the thousands. Many escape by taking refuge at the hotel, which is partially protected by United Nations peacekeepers.

At first, Colonel Oliver (Nick Nolte) of the U.N. believes international help is on the way. But when it arrives, it is only for evacuating foreign tourists. And despite western press reports of genocide, no one comes to the aid of the Rwanda people. As Paul repeatedly saves himself and his family from sure death, hope begins to fade. And the desperate measures taken to survive are the key moments of the film.

Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo, who plays Paul’s wife Tatiana, received best actor and best actress nominations for the upcoming Academy Awards. In addition, Keir Pearson and Terry George have been nominated for best original screenplay.

Cheadle’s portrayal of Paul is riveting, filling almost every scene in the film. Paul is an ordinary man doing heroic deeds in an extraordinary situation. He is the good person who would never think otherwise.

We marvel at his balanced attempts to protect his family and the people of the hotel at the same time. We are not surprised when he breaks down after seeing hundreds of murdered victims. But we are in awe when he picks himself up and goes back to the work of saving all whom he can save.

Although they were small parts, Joaquin Phoenix’s role as a news cameraman, and Jean Reno as president of the company that owns the hotel both have stand out performances. And once again, Nolte proves his diversity as the overwhelmed but courageous U.N. colonel.

The comparisons of Hotel Rwanda to Schindler’s List are appropriate, and a phrase repeated often since the Holocaust comes to mind — “Never Again.” But still it is happening — again and again and again. One film about one part of a horrific event may not change that. But it can’t hurt, either.

4 out of 5

Hotel Rwanda
Australian release: Thursday February 24th, 2005
Cast: Don Cheadle, Djimon Hounsou, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix, Sophie Okonedo.
Director: Terry George.
Website: Click here.

Brought to you by MovieHole