Review of Hotel Rwanda (2004) by Jiana W — 09 Apr 2011

A fantastic true story of what an ordinary person can do in times of unbelievable evil and inhumanity. Don Cheadle should've gotten an Oscar for his role as Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu family man who manages a popular hotel in Kigali, Rwanda. His hotel becomes the last refuge for displaced Hutu and Tutsi civilians as they flee for safety and protection from people who were once their neighbors. In the end, his courage and wits allow him to save over 1200 lives. After a second viewing, the story reminds me a bit of "Schindler's List".

It's a powerful movie with great acting all around. There is one scene that constantly makes me cry and it is the one where the nuns and orphans are rushing to catch the buses. Their initial thankfulness and elation gives way to tears and resistance when they're informed that the only people being evacuated are white non-Rwandans. This scene is absolutely heartbreaking to me.