Quicky Film Review: Hotel Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda (2004)

Genre: Drama/War
Tagline: When the world closed its eyes, he opened his arms.
Plot Outline: Don Cheadle stars in the true-life story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who housed over a thousand Tutsis refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda.

director: Terry George ("The District," 2000 - TV)
writing credits: Keir Pearson & Terry George (In the Name of the Father, 1993)
produced by: Kigali Releasing Limited, Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, Inside Track Films, Lions Gate Films Inc., Mikado Film s.r.l., Miracle Pictures, United Artists
starring: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte

This is a harrowing, but inspirational tale about a good man who became great just in time, and for long enough, to save 1,268 human lives. What have you done with your life, lately? Don Cheadle is spectacular as Paul Rusesabagina, a true hero during the horrific 1994 Rwanda genocide. The rest of the cast does a superb job as well (villians included). The film is unsurpisingly emotional, and that's even before I read these haunting words (among others) from the protaganist:

It was worse than what you saw on screen. When you see all around the road, both sides, dead bodies and you hear noises of people being killed, and there are people passing with machetes and machine guns . . .

Here is a quote from the movie, delivered by Don Cheadle's Paul, that stays with me, even nearly a week later:

There will be no rescue, no intervention for us. We can only save ourselves. Many of you know influential people abroad, you must call these people. You must tell them what will happen to us... say goodbye. But when you say goodbye, say it as if you are reaching through the phone and holding their hand. Let them know that if they let go of that hand, you will die. We must shame them into sending help.

That's what these poor victims (and they were the 'lucky' ones - they survived the atrocities) had to do - shame rich & powerful westerners (their contacts acquired over the years from working at a 4-star hotel) into using their political influence to squirt droplets of watery help (rescuing a few people here and there) into the raging fire of a genocide (at least 800,000 people were murdered). Shame on us.

Finally, the most famous quote from the movie is the following from Joaquin Phoenix's camera man character, Jack [after Paul thanks him for shooting footage of the genocide]:

I think if people see this footage, they'll say Oh, my God, that's horrible. And then they'll go on eating their dinners.

Well, after seeing this powerful film I still did exactly that. McDonald's, I believe.

IMDB User Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Metacritic's Metascore: 79 ("Generally favorable reviews")
Metacritic's Users score: 8.1 out of 10
Rotten Tomatoes Critics: 90%
Rotten Tomatoes Users: 96%

MY RATING: 8.8 out of 10