Hotel Rwanda retells the 1994 story of a hotel house manager, Paul Rusesabagina, left in control of a four-star facility with few resources while a ethnically motivated slaughter is being carried out in the streets and city surrounding them. His decision to allow refugees to inhabit the hotel and the savoir-faire he exhibits in dealing with local thugs distinguish the man as a hero to local and international supporters. The history alluded to most certainly was more complex than is presented in the terms of the film, but we are presented with a somewhat simplified version that manages to convey the broad strokes of a decades-old artificially created ethnic tension.

I was captivated by the tone of the acting here–so little panic ever came across. There was such a reserve and a resignation in Don Cheadle’s portrayal of Rusesabagina, and if Brett Butler hadn’t ruined the phrase, it would have been an apt summary to describe his performance as “grace under fire.” It was this quality that marked the heroism of such a charitable and calm gesture. Other characters were equally restrained, and the few moments where they quite reasonably seemed to come unglued were made more effective.

There is little romance to the scenery–this isn’t the veldt of more pastoral fantasies of Africa, but the worst remnants of colonialism. A scene along a bumpy road is a graphic reminder of the violence of these times. There’s also little animosity in the portrayal of the United Nations, but the frustration felt about the lack of response among the international community is constant. It’s interesting how humanely the Belgian owners of the resort are portrayed given that their interest in the genocide was almost purely financial.

Special DVD features include an interview with both Don Cheadle and Paul Rusesbagina, but lack a map of Rwanda for any bumbling Americans.

There are no comments yet. You could be the first!