Hotel rwanda HELP!?

Question

I have an extra credit report on Hotel Rwana tomorrow, and i need the summary. I was going to rent it, but i couldnt have time, so im going to see it tomorrow. Can you PLEASE explain to me the summary of the movie? i heard it was great
thanks so much

Answer 1

Basically, it was about the slaughtering of members of the Tutsi tribe by members of the Hutu tribe. The hierarchy of the tribes has the Tutsis akin to 'house slaves' and the Hutu were like 'field slaves' when the country was ruled by Belgium. The Hutus, who were darker and stockier in appearance, were looked down upon by the Tutsis- the Tutsis were lighter and leaner (supposedly). I believe this dates back to earlier times in history. There has been so much intermingling between the two are somewhat indistinguishable.

Once the Belgium began withdrawing from the country, and leaving control to the Hutus (a very cruel turn of events), a civil war escalated between the two tribes. The Hutus began violently taking revenge on the Tutsis. The manager of one of the Belgium owned hotels, Paul Rusesabagina (played by Don Cheadle), struggled to keep it afloat amid the war. All of his foreign guest checked out and many of the Tutsi refugees began fleeing into his hotel.

He spent most of the movie trying to shield them from harm by convincing the Hutus they were legitimate hotel guest. He spends all of his money and resources trying get supplies and pay off crooked authorities. While also trying to keep his wife (a Tutsi) and family safe. He gets very little help from the U.N. or outside governments who mostly use their resources getting the White population out of the country.

Eventually, when the Hutus are getting ready to storm the hotel, he manages to use the last of his resources (monetary and social) to save the lives of the hotel occupants. And although his sister-in-law and husband are killed, he manages to find his 2 nieces in a refugee camp ( my fave part of the movie).

This story is very reminiscent of Schindler's List. It shows how much one man is willing to risk to save other human beings, many of them strangers. It also shows the autrocities that took place in Rwanda at this time and how the outside world chose to ignore it. Sad, very sad and yet uplifting.

I hope this helps, good luck.

Answer 2

It is about a true life event that happened in South Africa. Its about a genocide between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic.

The main character, Paul Rusesabagina (a Hutu) works as a manager in a foreign-owned hotel and has a Tutsi wife. The president was assasinated, presumably by Tutis rebels and sparked off massive Hutus riots. Many Tutis are killed by the rebels during this time.
The hotel that Paul was working for was under UN protection and serves as a form of refuge for the foreigners during this time, but not for the Tutsi. However as the situation becomes worse and worse, Paul took in the Tutsi refugees. This is done against the wishes of his friend, a Hutu general (kind of the leader behind the riots).
The story continues around the killings during the riots, the desperation of the citizens and the rejection, then help by the UN.
Paul eventually convinced the Hutu general that he will be convicted with war crimes and executed if he continued.