By Sarah Carlson, Arts Editor
Starring Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix; directed by Terry George
Rated PG-13 (violence, disturbing images and brief strong language)
In 1994, millions of Tutsis were slaughtered at the hands of Hutus in Rwanda, a small country north of Burundi and to the east of the Congo in Africa. Shocking images were transmitted across the world, bringing little aid from other countries as Africans in Rwanda feared for their lives and watched as their neighbors were killed in the street.
Terry George beautifully captures the emotions of those living in Rwanda in “Hotel Rwanda,” one of the best films of 2004 that was robbed of an Oscar nod for Best Picture. The film focuses on one man, Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), a Hutu and hotel manager married to a Tutsi, Tatiana (Sophie Okonedo).
Paul is a successful businessman with the mentality that almost everything can be bought at a price, and family is the most important thing he needs to worry about. We see him doing favors for important people, storing them up so one day they can return his favors. He doesn’t have a strong opinion about the Hutu-Tutsi conflict; he just wants to manage his hotel and provide for his family the best way he knows how,
Unfortunately, a civil war breaks out between the two groups, and Paul sees firsthand the terrors that occur. He doesn’t listen to his brother-in-law’s pleas to leave the country and soon sees his own neighbors being attacked by radical Hutus. Because he is a powerful man, his neighbors flock to his house seeking shelter and guidance. Paul eventually brings everyone to his hotel, taking in orphans and those now homeless into the rooms and works with United Nations officials (Nick Nolte) to provide policemen and protection.
Eventually, Paul learns it is not just his immediate family that deserves protection but all his fellow countrymen because they are human and all deserve a certain quality of life.
The film is rather tastefully done considering its brutal subject matter, yet remains hard to watch because of disturbing and heartbreaking images of Rwandans suffering.
Joaquin Phoenix has a bit role as Jack, a cameraman documenting the crisis at the hotel. At first, he is hungry for the story and shows little sympathy to the situation. Soon, he goes against the wishes of the reporter he is with and leaves the hotel to film the conflict. He returns with a pale and stricken expression on his face.
Paul sees Jack’s footage of slaughtered children in the streets and thinks it will help to have the images shown around the world. He asks Jack how people could not respond after seeing such horrors, to which Jack says Americans will see the footage, say it is horrible and then go right on and eat their dinners.
Cheadle, who usually plays a supporting role, is excellent as Paul and deserving of his Oscar nomination for Best Actor, as is Okonedo with her nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Their relationship as husband and wife holds the story together.
Despite its heavy subject matter, “Hotel Rwanda” remains a testament to the human spirit and the idea that one person can make a difference. It has taken 10 years for this film to be made and this story to be told, and it has been well worth the wait.
