HOTEL RWANDA
Directed by Terry George
In theatres
(***)
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There is a dilemma in watching this film that I felt the moment I first screened it at this years’ Toronto International Film Festival.

The picture deals with one of the most horrifying genocides in human history. In 1994 Hutu extremists held the nation of Rwanda by the throat. They targeted the Tutsi tribe and hatred turned to vicious violence. People were literally hacked to death in the streets by marauding Hutus as the world watched and listened to reports coming out of Rwanda. The United Nations knew about the genocide, yet turned a blind eye as did the world caught up in the trial of O.J. Simpson. Nearly one million men, women and children were butchered by the Hutus, often in broad daylight, in front of their families.

Hotel Rwanda deals with the true story of a hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) who watched in horror as this happened all around him. He lived in mortal fear his wife, a full blooded Tutsi and their children, would be targeted. Managing a four star hotel in Rwanda he knew hot to get things, how to bribe officials, how to treat people, and very likely it saved his life and the lives of his family. He took in over one hundred Tutsi tribe members into the hotel where they lived in sort of a terrified sanctuary. We watch as Paul moves through the story, terrified everyday that death will visit his door, his hands often shaking so badly in fear that he cannot tie his tie.

Called by many a modern day Oskar Schindler, [Paul simply could not believe what was happening in his homeland. Horrified by the atrocities he saw committed everyday, he used every tool available to him to bribe, cajole, and keep the people in his hotel safe for one hundred days. How he did it is nothing short of miraculous.

Nick Nolte gives him startling support as a frustrated United Nations peace keeper who cannot believe the world is not heeding the call to Rwanda.

Cheadle’s performance is astonishing as he captures the fear and anguish of a man who knows that doing the right thing could mean death to him and his family. He rises above the horror and terror and strikes out for humanity. It is a quiet introspective performance that is creating awards talk around Hollywood.

My dilemma with the film.
I
respect the memory of the many massacred in Rwanda, and the story is one of courage and honour. However, should I admire the film simply for what it is about? That mistake was made by more than me years ago with Gandhi (1982) which one year after its release looked like an old fashioned studio biography. Hotel Rwanda is a good film, not a great film. While I weep for the near one million that died horrible violent deaths, I refuse to admire a film because of its subject matter. The rapturous reviews the film is receiving south of our border seem to me to come from critics who perhaps feel some guilt that the world, the United States in particular stood by while this happened because there was no oil or resources for them to plunder and earn financial gain. They called it a civil war and allowed it t happen. Now here is a film, an honorable film but hardly a masterpiece that explores the genocide and it is being raised to the level of great art because of its subject matter, plan and simple. I simply will not get sucked into that game.

The performances of Don Cheadle and Nick Nolte are extraordinary and Paul’s story is truly heartbreaking, but Hotel Rwanda, while a good film, is not a great film. What makes it a fine work are the tiny moments of intimacy between Paul and his wife, Paul and his staff and the quiet looks of horror that come across the face of Nick Nolte as he begins to realize the world does not care.

Now with the release of the film, the world does, and damned if they do not feel the guilt they should for turning a blind eye or turning on the Simpson murder trial. The film perhaps allows them the chance to feel the pain they should have felt when this was happening back in 1994, but that is no reason to elevate a film’s status. It insults the very memories of the many that died. My wife and I read with horror and outrage the reports of the massacre that was happening in Rwnada and wondered why no one was coming the aid of this country and its people?

Fine, admire the film, back ask yourself while watching the picture, where was the rest of the world in 1994 when madness took hold of Rwanda? How dare those falling over themselves rhapsodizing this film in honour of the dead do so? How shameful. Where were they in 1994?

Where was the world?










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