April 4, 2006

Hotel Rwanda

Jason and I watched this movie last night. I wasn't sure I was going to be interested and thought it might be a little much for me. It ended up being extemely thought-provoking and based on a true story. In 1994, half a million people were ruthlessly murdered in Rwanda. Don't know anything about it? Neither did I. The name of the country was familiar and I knew it was in Africa, but that was as far as my knowledge extended. A clash between two people groups, people groups that only existed because of Belgian labels placed on the people during their colonial rule, was the basis for the killings. The Hutu extremists felt they needed to eliminate the "cockroaches", so they began killing all the Tutsis and any Hutus who would help them. The movie highlights the story of a Hutu, married to a Tutsi woman, who saved the lives of over one thousand people at the hotel where he worked. The UN could not protect them, the western world only helped long enough to pull their own citizens out of the country (and out of the hotel), and many of his former friends and high-ranking officials were involved in the genocide. His poise, quick thinking, and diplomatic ways were all that saved the people, many of whom he did not know, from certain extinction.

The American press played it down, as did Clinton and his staff. His press secretary said there were incidents of genocide occurring, but not real genocide based on formulations. Formulations? Half a million people?

I was amazed by the bravery, the perseverance, the love for others this man had. He had the opportunity to leave, but he refused for the sake of all the people under his care.

As for the ending? Well, you will have to watch it to find out for yourself. I would suggest using a T.V. Guardian though, as it does have several swear words. And lest you think it is extremely violent, I was able to watch the whole time - which says a lot.