Five Stars, Movie Reviews - Sunday, November 13, 2005 22:01 - 11 Comments

Hotel Rwanda (DVD)

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.

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