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Hotel Rwanda (2004) 12A
Terry George
Drama
121 minutes
Don Cheadle, Sophie Okendo, Nick
Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix
Not a ‘first date’ movie, unfortunately. H otel R wand a
brings to western screens (arguably for the first time)
the story of the Hutus, the Tutsis, and the genocide
that occurred in Rwanda, leaving over a million dead.
Don Cheadle plays hotel manager Paul Ruesabagina,
who saved over a thousand refugees by keeping them
as “guests,” while the Hutu militias ravaged the
country.
Comparisons to Schind ler’s L ist notwithstanding, this movie
succeeds on many grounds: wisely sidestepping much of the
bloodshed, Paul’s struggle to survive and save in the face of
blind hatred and blatant apathy from of the western society
is given leeway to connect with the viewer, unfettered. There
are strong scenes contained within, and Don Cheadle pulls
off a career best; even the fake accent is good.
However, there are faults. Director Terry George fails to
successfully capitalize on the Hotel becoming more or less a
prison, or the claustrophobia of that number of the refugees
trapped in such a reasonably small area. The movie’s pace is
unfortunately uneven, and many key scenes are slightly
tainted by the accompanying overtly dramatic soundtrack,
when the image would have been powerful enough on its
own. Nick Nolte, probably seeing this was Don’s movie,
phoned in sick and sent his over-acting twin brother (see
T he H ulk ) to play good natured but helpless UN
commander. Joaquin Phoenix probably got the “Don’s
movie” note too; he barely registers a heartbeat as a
cameraman. So this ends up as Don’s burden, and he carries
it faithfully, portraying a character coming through for others
when life became overwhelming.
Modest, ambitious, and strangely uplifting despite its subject
matter, H otel R wand a is a minor miracle. See it, and watch
human nature work on both extremes.
Joshua Idehen
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