A film about a hero named Paul Rosesabagina, who saved 1,268 Tutsi and Hutu lives during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The hotel that Paul managed was an oasis in a country awash in blood. Within a short time, it was estimated that up to a million people died in the massacres during the then civil war. Many women were raped. The world just watched.

The Hutus are being incited to kill Tutsis. The root of the problem is that as long as the Belgians were in Rwanda, they ruled through the Tutsis, and on leaving they sold power to the Hutus. The latter want revenge for years of oppression.

There is no significant difference between the Hutus and the Tutsis, the quasi-difference was created by the Belgians who chose taller and more elegant people with narrower noses and lighter skin.

Paul is a Hutu and therefore he is not in that much danger from the Hutu rebels. His wife, however, is Tutsi. In his house, Paul offers shelter to several neighbours.

Soon, the Interhamwe, which are the police-military forces that side with the Hutus and assist in the massacre of the Tutsis, arrive at Paul’s house. From Paul they want the keys to the Diplomat Hotel, where Paul is an employee.

The commander discovers that Paul is also sheltering Tutsis. He becomes furious and orders Paul to shoot them. He resolves the tense situation by bribing the commander.

The hotel becomes a refuge for more and more people who are not easy to protect in a country with escalating violence.

The film shows not only the shameful behaviour of the UN mission, but also the world’s belated response to the Rwandan bloodshed.

Parents Guide: One longer scene with female sex slaves in skimpy clothing. A couple of shots of the women in the hotel in bikinis. Several violent scenes, multiple times a man being shot, dead people being killed.

Cast: Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Mothusi Magano, Joaquin Phoenix, Cara Seymour, Jean Reno, David O’Hara, Tony Kgoroge

Crew: Terry George

USA, 2004

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