Movie Review: 'Hotel Rwanda'

In 1994, in Rwanda, Tutsi rebels rose up against the Hutu ruling tribe leading to a civil war resulting in the deaths of over a million people, many of them women and children, in approximately 100 days. Shamefully, the rest of the world stood by and did nothing. Hotel Rwanda focuses on one man, Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle in a brilliant performance), the manager of the classy Les Milles Collines Hotel in Kigali. During the massacre he opened the hotel to over a thousand refugees and gave them shelter. Paul was a Hutu married to a Tutsi (also played brilliantly by Sophie Okenedo) and he took in people from both tribes. He shows incredible courage, wit, and imagination as he deals with very tense situations which threaten his, and his family's, lives. The film is deeply moving and disturbing but celebrates the courage of a very brave man. My Rating: ***** (out of 5) Best Review 'Emerges as an African version of "Schindler's List."' - Claudie Puig/USA Today Worst Review 'The film presents the Rwandans in the worst possible way: venal, corrupt, vicious, stupid, barbaric and completely incapable of governing themselves. Honestly, I've seen more intelligent and sympathetic depictions of Africans in Tarzan movies.' - Phil Hall/Film Threat Content Warnings Violence, disturbing images and brief strong language. Related Link Rwanda Order Hotel Rwanda on DVD for release in April