The first thing that came to mind after viewing this film was Schindler’s List by Steven Spielberg. The genocide, the pain, and utter destruction of a race of people because of differences in politics and beliefs.
What made this movie so moving was the realization that this was based on actual events. These people were given the cold shoulder from all governments with the power to intervine. Countries such as the United States and Britain refused to help the innocent who were being slaughtered by their own kin. Over 1 million men, women, and children died by the hands of their own African brothers and sisters.
This movie opened my eyes. It reminded me of how fortunate I am to live where I do. It reminded me not to take for granted what I have, and to help out where I can. I hope it moves you as much as it did me.
Synopsis:
Don Cheadle gives a riveting performance as Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of a European-owned hotel in Rwanda, who created a secret refugee camp for the Tutsi people during the brutal genocide committed against them by the Hutu people in 1994. His efforts helped to save 1200 lives out of close to a million who were killed. HOTEL RWANDA shows this man’s courage, while also capturing the political events that occurred between April and September ’94. First, United Nations soldiers are restricted from fighting back against Hutu guerillas, even after the Rwandan president is assassinated and the country is thrown into chaos.
Yep, one of most emotionally moving movies in recent memory. It’s on my list for DVDs to buy.
If Ray hadn’t come out, Don would have grabbed the Oscar easily!
One detail though, you tagged it as Four Stars and put it in the Five Star category. ;)
Thanks Kyle. I fixed it!
I have been meaning to watch this but feel like I have to be in the right mood since I know it is intense. I haven’t even seen Shindlers List yet.
I’ve been meaning to see this film.
I’ve wanted to see thes movie for a long time, ever since I saw the trailer, but it only had a limited run in the theaters here, so I’m stuck DVD hunting. Don Cheadle has always been one of my most favorite actors too.
very good movie. don cheadle has never disappointed. he shoulda won the oscar.
Great movie. Seen it a while back. I gave it an 8/10. There’s a review is on my site also (archives/search) in case you want to check it out :)
And to think of it that this happend right under our very noses…
I’ve never seen this, but it’s on my list of movies to see… Schindler’s List was pretty intense… It still haunts me…
Trench, great movie. It’s so easy to not realize what is going on in other parts of the world, in places “over there” that are just so far away. And it’s easy to not believe that atrocities such as these could actually happen in this day and age. Hotel Rwanda opened my eyes to someone that I was just wasn’t paying attention to because it was “over there” and just too unbelievable to be happening.
I’ve been meaning to see this film too. But I have to be honest… I hate watching movies that I know are going to make me hate the rest of the world. Am I a bad person??
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