Disturbing

As remarkable and unexplainably painful this movie was, it will make you question a lot of things around you. Living in United States, it is unbelievable how our media and government 'selectively' chose to ignore this massacare. That's when you question the objectives of governments who want to 'free' other countries from 'opression' of dictators and genocide. Where were these guys when 1 million people lost their lives in Rwanda? Perhaps, 1 million rwandan lives meant nothing to them and in future the countries from which we have nothing to gain will remain sub-human and meaningless to governments like ours. Don Cheadle gives the performance of his lifetime, before this I thought he was best in Out of Sight, but the performance in Hotel Rwanda overshadows the one in Out of Sight, and all of his other movies.

Cinema Mirroring Life

When I received this movie, I halfway expected to be entertained.

After I watched this movie, I felt sick, insensitive, and numb.

The cast and directors of Hotel Rwanda have done a marvelous work in drawing you into this conflict and portraying a scenario that begs you to care about a people and crisis working outside of your paradigm. Few of us, if any [reading this] have ever experienced anything like the sadly real genocide described in this film.

Hotel Rwanda demands your attention because:
-It is historic. What you see is a fairly accurate portrayal of what happened in Rwanda. Being the case, it hurts the heart to see the uncaring slaughter of hundreds of thousands and pricks the ear to the reality of death.
-It challenges your point of view. You are forced to come in contact with human nature in one of its darkest forms. The foundation of a philosophy that dictates the inherent goodness of man is rocked by the inhumane treatment of neighbors and coworkers.
-It slaps you in the face. The west too often views the outside world as something that is only marginally existent. We watch the news, we feel bad about what we see, and then we "go back to eating dinner."

Watch this movie. I can't describe how it made me feel - the lack of hope and truth of loss that is vicariously experienced. Use it as a catalyst to cause you to care for the world outside your backyard and to feel the burden of the worlds poorest spirits.

Tear Jerking Movie

I just finished watching the movie Hotel Rwanda and I must say that it is a deeply moving film. The story is one that unforetunately not to many people are aware of. The movie follows Paul Ruseasabagina (Don Cheadle, who deserves an Oscar for this role) as he responds to one of the worst slaughter's in human histroy. The story takes place in Rwanda circa. 1994 in the middle of a civil war that pits Hutus (the majority) against Tutsi (the minority). The Hutus (which Ruseasabagina is a member of) are engaged in the genocide of nearly a million Tutsi in the span of three months. The movie chronicles Ruseasabagina's actions which led to the lives of over 1000 refugees being saved at a hotel that he is the manager of. The acting is superb (Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix) with a chilling view of actual events. The worst part is the Western's turned a blind eye to the atrocities and for the most parts left the Rwandans to fend for themselves. The most chilling line of the movie was delivered by Nick Nolte that played the role of a UN peacekeeper:

"You know what the west sees you as? (speaking to Ruseasabagina) you
are black, and even worse than a nigger, you are an African"

I believe that quote summed up the entire meaning of the film. Still they found a way to fight through and survive. This is truly a GREAT film and I am appalled that it did not recieve more press. With all of the human rights talk going on in the world today (North Korea, Iraq) I am deeply suprised and embrassed that no came to the souls of these poor people. Once I give it some thought, the nightmare in Somolia the year before most likely had something to do with the Western powers not wanting to intervene here. Nonetheless, I wish that everything was not about politics - yet someone found it in their heart to help. Hopefully, on day (not likely) the senseless killing will stop...one day.