The Sadness of Hotel Rwanda
I went and saw a preview screening of the film Hotel Rwanda yesterday and I would like to urge everyone to go see it. The performances and the film as a whole are very powerful and definitely worth seeing. Don Cheadle will most certainly get an Academy nomination. My only major complaint is the casting of Nick Nolte as a UN soldier, which never seemed to work.
For those who don’t know, Rwanda experienced an insane genocide in 1994 in which 800,000 people were killed in roughly three months, the majority of which were hacked to death with machetes. The film focuses on the efforts of one man, Paul Rusesabagina, who managed to bargain the safety of 1268 people while the world stood by and did nothing. Some people consider lying about sex to be Clinton’s biggest mistake. I’d say it was not intervening in Rwanda.
Standing in line to see the film, the woman next to me struck up a conversation about the film and the events of over a decade ago. I shared with her the story of my grandmother, who now lives there to care for orphans. She shared her concern that the film wouldn’t be noticed due to the overwhelming horror of the tsunami. At the end of our conversation, we both shared our concern of the genocide that exists today and continues to be ignored, specifically the genocide in Darfur. We had both written our letters to our reps (please do the same), shared our concern with our friends, but felt that once again tragedy was taking place with some notice but too little action by the world at large.
Perhaps someone will make a film about it in ten years.
Update: You can now order Hotel Rwanda on DVD.
Permanent Link
I heartily recommend a book by Philip Gourevitch called “We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With Our Families: Stories from Rwanda”. I don’t even remember why Janece and I picked it up, but it’s an incredibly compelling and thorough walk through the Ruwandan genocide — from it’s roots in colonial Belgian occupation to the political aftermath. I believe he won a Pulitzer for it, if I’m not mistaken.
I thought the movie Hotel Ruwanda was done very well. I agree Nick Nolte did not seem to fit in as a soldier in movie, otherwise very good movie and Don Cheadle is a great actor. Sometime in April also good.Regarding the tragic genocide…
Sixty years ago, there was a similar genocide in Nanjing,China.I even wasn’t born at that time.Whenever I heard the old talk about the horrible past,I am shocked.But I could never imagine the scene that people had no place to hide and no one to turn to,just waiting to die.This film gave me an clue.Granted,they are terrible.But they truely happened.Today those things have been history,whether Ruwanda Genocide or Manjing Massaca,we can talk about them with a calm accent. But the suffering they caused won’t be foggoten,especially for the young.Remember history and cherish the future.Peace is needed by everone.
I all ready saw the hole movie on dvd and i have to say that it`s a very very sad history cause it`s really hapend and`s continue hapend actually.. we all know that the movie is a true history … I adont have a idea that can exist that kind of racial discrimination on comunitis like africa cause there are countrys from the 3rd world…. i`m very consterned with that situation… but about the movie it`s a great movie i really recomended to seeit now bye
gretting from mexico
funny when people claim they want to correct the imbalances or what ever they do not agree with. It is ordinary people on the street who suffer the most. As a South African, I’m graitfull to the ANC for opting for peace talks and nothing else…
the film gives testimony of how cruel we people can be. i wish it were a dream.” wake up people the end of the world is at hand”
I saw this film when it was screened by Hyderabad film club. Its remarkable film but I became very sad for it really happened.
I was deeply disturbed to realise how inhuman people can be.
The director and the actors and the technicians deserve all the praise.
Yesterday I happened to see the person Mr.Paul Rusesabagina who really saved the lives of 1268 odd people of this horrible genocide on BBC-Hard Talk.It was a praise worthy programme on Tv.The person Mr.Paul Rusesabagina deserves Nobel Prize,where as the whole world should bow in shame to this gentleman. It is a fact that the world stood by and did nothing.
This film is well planned and organised. when you watch it, you feel the inhumanity of some callous people in our society.
Mr. Paul Rusesabaina, Well Done and God bless you.There is nothing anyone can say or do for you tha will be more than the blessings of god upon your life.
What is the cause of all this genocide? I think people should grow up and stop solving the problems in a country with the killing of the minorities.