Directed by:
Terry GeorgeCinematography:
Robert FraisseCast:
Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, Hakeem Kae-Kazim, Mothusi Magano, Joaquin Phoenix, Cara Seymour, Jean Reno, David O'Hara, Tony Kgoroge, Fana Mokoena (more)VOD (3)
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Ten years ago, as the country of Rwanda descended into madness, one man made a promise to protect the family he loved--and ended up finding the courage to save over 1200 people. Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager in Rwanda, secretly used his position and intelligence to shelter over a thousand refugees during the genocide crisis. While the rest of the world closed its eyes, Paul opened his heart to prove that the human spirit can make us stronger than we’d ever imagine. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (10)
A story that can't possibly leave anyone unmoved. Don Cheadle as a man who stood up to a war. A hotel manager who stood up to fear. And a song sung by native children that breaks hearts with every note. Psychologically unpleasant to watch, but qualitatively an absolute peak.
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One thing needs to be done right at the beginning, to bow down to the creators for taking on a seemingly uninteresting topic for America and making a film about it. However, director Terry George used the brutal fist of the Rwandan genocide only as a backdrop for the story of one man who accomplished the almost impossible. If I had to compare Paul Rusesabagina to someone, it would definitely be Oskar Schindler. Through diplomatic talks and the almighty power of money, they managed to do one and the same thing. In the film, Rusesabagina is portrayed as a man who does not want to become a hero, but the price of human life is incalculable for him and his actions must therefore soon be understood by every viewer. Moreover, his character and humanity are perfectly portrayed thanks to the magnificent performance of Don Cheadle. Indeed, if it weren't for Jamie Foxx playing the blind Ray, Cheadle would have been assured of an Oscar. And while on the topic of actors, it would be a sin not to mention the excellent performances of Nick Nolte and Joaquin Phoenix, who handled their small but important roles very well, especially Phoenix's full beard, which is quite distracting. However, just like Hotel Rwanda has many merits, it also has many shortcomings, with the biggest one being the unevenness of the storytelling. The director tries to combine "action" scenes, where the militia murders the unarmed, with emotional and heavy decision-making scenes in a very subtle way, which results in a diametrical thereto. At times, I felt like I was watching two movies at the same time, which also strongly deviated from the original theme of the storytelling. But neither the "action" nor the impression is the point. It's about the value of a human life and how much strength one is willing to sacrifice for it. This is what Hotel Rwanda tells a great story about. It’s been four years since we got Black Hawk Down by Ridley Scott, and here we get another very raw and harsh "postcard" from Africa.
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“I think if people see this footage they'll say, "Oh my God that's horrible!" ...and then go on eating their dinners. That’s right, I couldn’t put it better than in this quote from the movie. An outstanding picture which, despite the topic, leaves no lasting impression. Which is surprising at the very least.
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Hotel Rwanda is one of those films that everyone without exception should watch so they can see the kind of people that live with us in the world, and make up their own minds and learn. From this perspective, this is a truly unique film full of emotion, friendship and human cruelty. In addition, all the woes and horrors are expressed solely through the character of Don Cheadle, who gives a fantastic performance, while blood and violence are not the main theme. But I’m giving it 4*, because the power of the original idea this time a outweighs little bit the final impression.
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From an emotional perspective, an almost perfect film based on true events that took place during the infamous genocide in 1993. Excellent script, quality casting, and smart direction. The result is a film that succeeded worldwide and conveyed the brutal events in Central Africa far better than the media. One of the best films in recent years. Overall impression: 100%. However, it is not a film that can convey a good mood; it is a heavy testimony about a country deformed by its poverty and ethnic hatred.
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Gallery (61)
Photo © 2004 United Artists
![Hotel Rwanda - Photos](http://image.pmgstatic.com/cache/resized/w663/files/images/film/photos/159/378/159378764_6ffb6a.jpg)
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