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HOTEL
RWANDA
review
by Terri Wall
In the new film Hotel Rwanda, Don Cheadle gives a
brilliant (and probably Academy Award nominated) performance as
the real-life Paul Rusesabagina. “Who? I never heard of him”
you say, “so why should I go to see a film about him?”
Perhaps because you may learn how a seemingly ordinary but truly
enlightened human being can make a major impact and save lives.
The film recreates the events during the 1994 civil uprising in
Rwanda. The exact reasons for this uprising are never fully explained
in the film but it doesn't make any difference to your understanding
of the events since we never really do know or understand the reasons
for this type of insanity. At the time most of the world (including
the United Nations and the United States) stood by and refused to
help the thousands being killed every day.
Paul Rusesabagina was the manager of an upscale European-owned hotel
who found himself thrust into an extraordinary position. When the
slaughter began, he immediately took his wife and children to the
hotel where he worked to keep them safe. He also took many of his
neighbors who begged him to help them. As the situation grew worse
and worse, more and more people showed up begging for shelter and
Paul accommodated them despite great risk to himself, his family
and his employer's property. He had to stand up to both sides
to keep them from raiding the hotel and taking the refugees away.
Food and water became scarce and Paul had to risk his own life to
go out into the war zone in order to replenish them.
Truly this one lone man was able to save hundreds of lives which
provides a deeply emotional and ultimately satisfying film-going
experience.
Hotel Rwanda definitely belongs on this year's
Ten Best list.
Now imagine that if after you have just watched this amazing film,
you are told Paul Rusesabagina is actually in the theater. Imagine
the response when he comes in and walks down the aisle to a standing
ovation and thunderous applause which lasts for at least three minutes.
Imagine the tears in your eyes as you realize you are in the presence
of someone who made a decision to help others and changed the world.
That is the experience I had when I saw the film at an early preview
screening. Terry George, the director, and Paul Rusesabagina answered
questions from the audience and provided further insight into what
really happened in Rwanda in 1994 and how we have to be watchful
to keep something like this from happening again and being ignored
by the world. It gave me an incredible sense of hope when Terry
George pointed out that “In the Name of the Father”,
a film he wrote, helped the peace process in Northern Ireland. It
reminded me of the power of movies to change global consciousness
and truly change the universe.
Hotel
Rwanda
was directed by Terry George and written by Keir Pearson and Terry
George. It stars Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte and Joaquin
Phoenix. For more information see the Website for the film at www.hotelrwanda.com
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