Hotel Rwanda

Morgan Hunt
History 9
February 10, 2008
Film Analysis Report

The setting of the film Hotel Rwanda was in Kigali, the heart, capital and largest city in Rwanda. In 1994 Kigali was the scene for the Rwandan Genocide, in which around 1 million Tutsi's lost their life. The film is based on a true story one how one man, Paul Rusesabigina, used his hotel -The Mille Collines- to save thousands of lives from the Interahamwe (Hutu militia responsible for much of the killing in 1994 genocide). He gives up many of his belongings and money just to shelter these people, even though there is little hope of survival. Although this film is quite heartbreaking, it sends a message of how when we see something bad going on in the world, that we shouldn’t just sit around and do nothing; we need to bring our sympathy to action.
The main character, Paul Rusesabigina was the general manager at the Mille Collines hotel, and used his authority and money to save as many people as he could. He was a family man, and in the movie is quoted for saying "Family is all that matters." He sacrifices more than most would just to save these people. He lived on hope. There were so many things going

against him, against all the Tutsi's, but he took the risks he needed just to save the people of Rwanda. He was the person in the film who had the greatest affect on me. Although there were times when he thought for sure that they were all going to die, he stayed composed, he never let all the people in the hotel realize he was worried, he made them believe everything would be alright and he did it with good intentions at mind. There is no doubt in my mind that many people consider him a hero, and he has certainly earned it.
His wife, Tatiana Rusesabigina, is also a very caring person. She worries about her friends, and especially her niece's, wanting so badly for them to be okay. The night the president of Rwanda was murdered, a 'cleansing of the country' beings, and Roger, their son is outside. When Roger is brought into the house he is covered in blood which terrifies them. However, once toweled clean, luckily they realize he has no injuries; he has the blood of others from witnessing killings. The rest of the movie, he does not talk until Paul, does not get on the truck that their family is on, and Roger screams "Papa! Papa!” However, the UN truck that is supposed to bring them to the airport has been ratted out by Gregoire. Gregoire was a Hutu employee of Paul, and threatens to tell on Paul for holding 'cockroaches' in the hotel, and refuses to work for him.


Another main character in the movie is George Rutaganda, Vice-President of the Interahamwe. Paul goes to him when he needs more food for the hotel, and George attempts to encourage Paul to join the Interahamwe. One of my favorite characters in the movie would have to be Pat Archer, a Red Cross member. Her goal in the movie was to save the orphans, which I thought was a good goal. She also helps Paul and Tatiana find their niece's amongst all the children.
In this movie there is a great deal of conflict. Some external conflict would be obviously be the genocide taking place, but also conflict with Gregoire and what needs to be done for safety. Gregoire, as said before is a Hutu employee of Paul that refuses to work. When Paul tries to enforce the fact that he should work, Gregoire uses the fact that he is keeping Tutsi's in the hotel against him. When at last there is hope for people getting on a plane to safety, Gregoire tells a Hutu, who announces it on the radio and the truck full of Tutsi's is attacked on the way to the airport. If Gregoire had not interfered, the people staying at the hotel would have had more hope and reassurance instead of fear.



Some internal conflict is conflict that Paul has inside. He is torn between sheltering these people and keeping his family safe. It worries him of what may become of the people in his hotel. He tries to do all he can but worries that it is not enough. He deals with the pressure of not only keeping his family save but also the people at the hotel. Although he says he will never leave Tatiana and his family he feels that he needs to stay and help the people at the hotel. Another internal conflict is with Roger, because during the whole movie he is traumatized from when he witnessed his neighbors and friend's family's being slaughtered.
In my opinion, the turning point of the fill was when they were driving along the road back to the hotel and had to turn around because of all the dead bodies. It showed how serious the problem was and how out of hand it had gotten. It made the watchers realize the extent of the killings, and hit Paul with a reality check. He realized that they were all going to die soon anyway, they would all share the same end but yet he still tried to change what he thought was everyone's fate. He knew that the machete was no way to die.
Paul Rusesabigina had more than 1,200 Tutsis and moderate Hutus within the walls of the luxury hotel he managed. I liked how the movie kept most of the film as accurate as possible. I am also glad how they kept it less

violent so they could keep it PG 13, however I would have changed it so they at least mentioned what really happened just so people would be aware that it was much worse. I also liked how they didn’t show you the extent of the killings until about halfway through the film when they are driving in the road. It leaves out a part that would worry you and it is introduced at just the right time. It is a scary thought to think about 1 million people were killed in the Rwandan Genocide. It is also quite terrible that after staying in Rwanda for two more years, Paul Rusesabigina moved to Brussels in 2006 after receiving credible threats on his life. I learned how selfish and heartless people can truly be. Although they UN did try to help, so many were not concerned at all with the people that were being killed. So many killings were taking place, and the world only looked away.
In my opinion, the movie was a 10. Not only was it informative, but it kept the viewers interested. The movie sent a reality check to the audience as they the viewers began to feel guilt and sadness for what took place. It is quite a moving story that I think everyone should watch, and hopefully for those who watch it will be more thankful for what they have, and to lend a helping hand when needed.