Hotel Rwanda
Directed by	Terry George
Produced by	Terry George A. Kitman Ho
Written by	Keir Pearson, Terry George
Starring	Don Cheadle Sophie Okonedo Ahmed Panchbaya Nick Nolte Jean Reno
Distributed by	Lions Gate Films United Artists
Release date(s)	September 11, 2004
Running time	121 min.
Language	English, French
Budget	~ US$17,500,000
IMDb profile

Hotel Rwanda is an historical drama film that shows the quiet heroism of one man, Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), during the Rwandan Genocide. Directed by Northern Irish filmmaker Terry George, it was co-produced in 2004 by US, British, Italian, and South African companies, and the first ever co-production between the rival independent film studios Lions Gate Films and United Artists. It was filmed mostly in South Africa, with some second unit filming in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. Hotel Rwanda movie poster. ... Terry George (born 1952) is a Belfast-born screenwriter and director. ... Terry George (born 1952) is a Belfast-born screenwriter and director. ... Don Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor. ... Sophie Okonedo (born January 1, 1969) is an Academy Award-nominated British actress. ... Nicholas King Nolte (born February 8, 1941) is a Oscar-nominated American actor, model, and producer. ... Jean Reno (born Juan Moreno y Herrera Jiménez (Spanish) [1][2] while French sources spell it as Don Juan Moreno y Herrera Jimenez [3]. on July 30, 1948) is a French actor. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Lions Gate Films. ... This article is about the film studio. ... is the 254th day of the year (255th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... USD redirects here. ... The historical drama is a film genre in which stories are based upon historical events and famous persons. ... Paul Rusesabagina (born June 15, 1954) is a Rwandan who has been internationally honored for saving over 1,000 civilians during the Rwandan Genocide. ... Don Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor. ... The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass killing of the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutu sympathizers in Rwanda and was the largest atrocity during the Rwandan Civil War. ... Northern Ireland (Irish: , Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a constituent country of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... Terry George (born 1952) is a Belfast-born screenwriter and director. ... Film production on location in Newark, New Jersey. ... The year 2004 in film involved some significant events. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized... An independent film, or indie film, is usually a low-budget film that is produced by a small movie studio. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Lions Gate Films. ... This article is about the film studio. ... In film, the second unit is a separate team that shoots footage which is of lesser importance for the final motion picture, as opposed to the first unit, which shoots all scenes involving actors, or at least the stars of the film. ... Kigali, population 851,024 (2005), is the capital and largest city of Rwanda. ...

Hotel Rwanda has been called an African Schindler's List^[1]. Both movies portray a man who uses his political position, social skills and quick wit to rescue thousands of lives from a holocaust. Unlike its more famous cousin, Hotel Rwanda did not win any Oscars, though it was nominated for three: Best Actor (Cheadle), Best Supporting Actress (Sophie Okonedo), and Best Original Screenplay. This article is about the movie. ... Although he never won an Oscar for any of his movie performances, the comedian Bob Hope received two honorary Oscars for his contributions to cinema. ... Sophie Okonedo (born January 1, 1969) is an Academy Award-nominated British actress. ...

Synopsis

The film is based on true events that took place during the genocidal violence that erupted in Rwanda between the Hutu and Tutsi groups in 1994, when the Hutu military and Interahamwe militias killed roughly 800,000 Tutsis over approximately 100 days. The Hutu are a Central African ethnic group, living mainly in Rwanda and Burundi. ... The Tutsi are one of three native peoples of the nations of Rwanda and Burundi in central Africa, the other two being the Twa and the Hutu. ... Year 1994 (MCMXCIV) The year 1994 was designated as the International Year of the Family and the International Year of the Sport and the Olympic Ideal by the United Nations. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The film opens with a radio being tuned in to RTLM, playing an extremist anti-Tutsi broadcast (“They are cockroaches. They are murderers. Rwanda is our Hutu land”) to elaborate on the situation in Rwanda in 1994. Massive tensions existed between the Hutus, the majority group and the Tutsis, the minority group that had once had governmental control. The invasion by the predominantly Tutsi RPF and the resulting civil war had increased these tensions. Radio Télévision Libre de Mille Collines (RTLM) was a Rwandan radio station which broadcast from 8 July 1993 to 31 July 1994. ... For other uses, see Cockroaches. ... Hutu is the name given to one of the three ethnic groups occupying Burundi and Rwanda. ... The Tutsi are one of three native peoples of the nations of Rwanda and Burundi in central Africa: the other two being the Twa (or Watwa), a pygmy people, and the original inhabitants; and the Hutu (Wahutu), a Bantu-derived people. ... The Rwandese Patriotic Front or Rwandan Patriotic Front, abbreviated as RPF (also often referred to as FPR from French: Front patriotique rwandais), is the current ruling political party of Rwanda, led by President Paul Kagame. ...

Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) and his wife, Tatiana (Sophie Okonedo) make a good living in Rwanda with their three children, two girls and a son. Paul is the hotel manager of the Belgian resort, the Hotel des Mille Collines - perhaps the most extravagant hotel in the country. As Paul continues his daily job of gladhanding high-ranking Rwandan officials and foreign visitors, he starts to become aware of a dangerous tension brewing in the city. Early in the film Paul goes to visit George Rutaganda, deputy leader of the Hutu extremist Interahamwe militia, who encourages him to join the Interahamwe. Paul, a moderate Hutu, refuses. Paul begins to realize that something terrible is about to happen in the country, but his fears are eased because the United Nations and foreign press are in the city to cover the president signing a historic peace agreement. Don Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor. ... Sophie Okonedo (born January 1, 1969) is an Academy Award-nominated British actress. ... For other uses, see Hotel (disambiguation). ... Georges Anderson Nderubumwe Rutaganda (born 28 November 1958) is a Rwandan war criminal. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ... President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, trade unions, universities, and countries. ...

Paul and the others at the hotel are informed that the president was killed when his plane was shot down, presumably by the Tutsi extremists (it has been alleged that Hutu extremists upset at the peace signing, shot down the president so as to have a motivating catalyst for the actions against the Tutsi.^{[citation needed]}) Massive Hutu riots begin, as tens of thousands of Tutsis across the city and country are slaughtered by the Interahamwe, who are backed by the (predominantly Hutu) national army. Paul immediately looks after his family only, and hopes the uprising will be squashed because of the U.N. presence in the country, coupled with journalists openly documenting the slaughter. (One such journalist in the country is played by actor Joaquin Phoenix.) Look up plane in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Joaquín Rafael Phoenix (pronounced IPA: ) (born October 28, 1974), formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is as a two-time Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe and Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican film actor. ...

As conditions worsen, Paul starts to locate his friends and relatives, many of them (including his wife) are Tutsi, in an attempt to transport them to the hotel, as it is under the protection of U.N. soldiers, led by Colonel Oliver (Nick Nolte). Paul manages to bribe violent soldiers into letting his friends and family live, and gets them into the hotel. Hundreds more refugees flock to the hotel for safety and the staff becomes overwhelmed with feeding and helping all the children and injured. Ten Belgian U.N. soldiers are murdered while protecting Tutsi Prime Minister Agathe Uwilingiyimana, who was also killed. Nicholas King Nolte (born February 8, 1941) is a Oscar-nominated American actor, model, and producer. ... Bribery is the practice of offering a professional money or other favours in order to circumvent ethics in a variety of professions. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... Agathe Uwilingiyimana (1953 - 7 April 1994) was a Rwandan political figure. ...

A convoy from a French-led intervention force arrives, but only to evacuate foreign nationals, mostly whites and journalists who were guests there. Oliver leaves the hotel with only four U.N. guards and ashamedly tells Paul that no foreign help is coming to stop the slaughter because no one cares enough to intervene, as troops from both the intervention force and from some of the UNAMIR nations withdraw. Paul telephones all his contacts and trades in favors he had built up as manager of the hotel. The United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) was a relief mission instituted by the United Nations. ...

RTLM radio urges Hutus to storm the hotel and kill Paul as well as all the Tutsi "cockroaches". Paul, in a desperate attempt, manages to convince his contact in the Hutu army, General Augustin Bizimungu, that he will be charged with war crimes unless he comes to the hotel and stops the Interahamwe from slaughtering refugees. Bizimungu attempts to convince Paul to retreat with him and the army to Gitarama, to escape the RPF rebel advance on Kigali, but eventually agrees with Paul. The plan works, and the refugees are saved. A large convoy of U.N. trucks finally arrives to save everyone, traveling away from the hotel. The convoy passes thousands of fleeing Hutus, attempting to escape from the RPF. The convoy is rescued from an Interahamwe attack by an RPF ambush and is able to reach the refugee camp. At the camp, Paul and Tatiana find their two missing nieces among other lost children as well as Pat Archer (a Red Cross member who brought several orphans to the hotel earlier in the story), and celebrate their survival and reunion. This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... General Augustin Bizimungu Augustin Bizimungu is a former general in the Rwandan army. ... In the context of war, a war crime is a punishable offense under International Law, for violations of the laws of war by any person or persons, military or civilian. ... Refugee camp in Zaire, 1994 The Great Lakes refugee crisis is the common name for the situation beginning with the exodus in April 1994 of over two million Rwandans to neighboring countries of the Great Lakes region of Africa in the aftermath of the Rwandan Genocide. ...

The ending titles reveal that Paul managed to save 1,268 refugees and that because of the RPF invasion the Hutu army/Interahamwe retreated into Zaire. It also explains that Rutaganda and General Bizimungu were tried for crimes against humanity, but also reveals that almost 1,000,000 Rwandans lost their lives in the genocide. Paul now lives in Belgium with his family, including his adopted nieces. This article is in need of attention. ...

Historical accuracy

Several journalists and historians confirm the film's accuracy in portraying the fundamental sequence of events at the Hotel des Mille Collines and surrounding Kigali^[2][3].

The film contains some minor historical inaccuracies:

• Characters in the film refer to the "Congo", instead of Zaire, which was the name of the DRC at the time.^[4]
• Colonel Oliver in the film is Canadian but refers to his lieutenants as "lū-tĕn'ənts" the American pronunciation; however, the Canadian pronunciation is modeled after the British where the rank is pronounced "lĕf-tĕn'ənts".
• The green Land Rover Defender used by the Hutus is UK-military spec, probably a 1980s-era ex-MoD surplus. The peacekeepers' trucks are South African-made SAMILs.
• In the opening sequence, there is an advertisement of the cellular company "MTN". However, there were no cellular phones during that period (1994).

Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... Land Rover was the name of one of the first British civilian all-terrain utility vehicles, first produced by Rover in 1947. ... The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces. ... SAMIL Trucks (South African MILitary) are the standard logistical transport vehicles of the South African National Defence Force, manufactured by Truck-Makers in Rosslyn, Pretoria. ...

Subtle or hidden references

A magazine rack in the lobby of the hotel holds a copy of Time magazine's 1992 Man of the Year with Bill Clinton on the cover. This was likely a deliberate statement by the film-maker, calling attention to Clinton's admitted failure to prevent or stop the Rwandan genocide^[5]. (Clockwise from upper left) Time magazine covers from May 7, 1945; July 25, 1969; December 31, 1999; September 14, 2001; and April 21, 2003. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Person of the Year is an annual issue of United States (U.S.) newsmagazine Time that features a profile on the man, woman, couple, group, idea, place, or machine that [1] // The tradition of selecting a Man of the Year began in 1927, when Time editors contemplated what they could... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III[1] on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ...

Reviews

The film has received a great deal of critical acclaim, with a 91% 'fresh' rating on RottenTomatoes.^[6] As of September 2007, the film is ranked #70 in The Internet Movie Database's ranking of the top 250 films^[7]. In the United States, the film was originally rated R, but is one of the few films that appealed and won its appeal. It was re-rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and brief strong language. Hotel Rwanda was nominated for three Academy Awards including Best Actor for Don Cheadle, Best Supporting Actress for Sophie Okonedo, and Best Original Screenplay for Keir Pearson and Terry George. Rotten Tomatoes () is a website devoted to reviews and news of movies and video games. ... The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) is an online database of information about actors, films, television shows, television stars, video games and production crew personnel. ... The Motion Picture Association of Americas film rating system is used in the United States and its territories to rate a films suitability for certain audiences. ... The Motion Picture Association of Americas film rating system is used in the United States and its territories to rate a films suitability for certain audiences. ... Academy Award The Academy Awards, popularly known as the Oscars, are the most prominent and most watched film awards ceremony in the world. ... Don Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor. ... Sophie Okonedo (born January 1, 1969) is an Academy Award-nominated British actress. ... Terry George (born 1952) is a Belfast-born screenwriter and director. ...

The American Film Institute ranked Hotel Rwanda as #90 on its list of the 100 most inspirational movies of all time^[8]. Film critic Richard Roeper said that it was one of the most inspirational films that he had ever seen and named the film the best of 2004 ^[9]. Roger Ebert gave the film four-stars^[10] and ranked Hotel Rwanda as the ninth best movie of 2004^[9]. Ebert's website provides a summary of additional reviews ^[11] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Richard Roeper (born October 17, 1959)[1] is a columnist/film critic for the Chicago Sun-Times and, since September of 2000, has co-hosted the television series At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper with fellow film critic Roger Ebert. ... Roger Joseph Ebert (born June 18, 1942) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning American film critic. ... Stars are also used to classify senior military ranks. ...

According to the December 3, 2006 edition of 60 Minutes, Hotel Rwanda was the fifth most-rented movie on Netflix at the time. It was number four most rented in June 2007 ^[12]. This article is about the CBS news magazine. ... Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX), is the largest online DVD rental service, offering flat rate rental-by-mail to customers in the United States. ...

Awards/Nominations

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), is a British organization that hosts annual awards shows for film, television, childrens film and television, and interactive media. ... The Black Reel Awards began in 2000 and were designed to annually recognize and celebrate the achievements of African-Americans in feature, independent and television films. ...

Famous quotes from the film

Dube: Aah, that is a fine cigar, sir!
Paul Rusesabagina: This is a Cohiba cigar. Each one is worth 10,000 francs.
Dube: 10,000 francs?
Paul Rusesabagina: Yes, yes. But it is worth more to me than 10,000 francs.
Dube: What do you mean, sir?
Paul Rusesabagina: If I give a businessman 10,000 francs, what does that matter to him? He is rich. But, if I give him a Cohiba cigar straight from Havana, Cuba. Hey, that is style, Dube.
Dube: [smiles] Style!

Colonel Oliver: We're here as peace keepers, not peace makers.

Paul Rusesabagina: I am glad that you have shot this footage and that the world will see it. It is the only way we have a chance that people might intervene.
Jack: Yeah and if no one intervenes, is it still a good thing to show?
Paul Rusesabagina: How can they not intervene when they witness such atrocities?
Jack: I think if people see this footage they'll say, "oh my God that's horrible," and then go on eating their dinners. [pause] What the Hell do I know?

Colonel Oliver: [explaining why the world will not intervene] You're black. You're not even a nigger. You're an African.

Pat Archer: [relating the last words of the orphan slain by the Hutus] Please don't let them kill me. I . . . I promise I won't be Tutsi anymore.

Pat Archer: [walking with family towards bus] They said that there wasn't any room.
Paul Rusesabagina: There's always room.

Paul Rusesabagina: You can't seriously believe that you could kill all the Tutsis...
George Rutaganda: And why not? Why not? We are halfway there already.

Cast

• Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina
• Sophie Okonedo as Tatiana Rusesabagina
• Nick Nolte as Colonel Oliver
• Fana Mokoena as General Augustin Bizimungu
• Joaquin Phoenix as Jack Daglish (the journalist)
• Jean Reno as Sabena Airlines President, Mr. Tillens
• Desmond Dube as Dube
• Hakeem Kae-Kazim as George Rutaganda

Don Cheadle (born November 29, 1964) is an Academy Award-nominated and Golden Globe Award-winning American actor. ... Paul Rusesabagina (born June 15, 1954) is a Rwandan who has been internationally honored for saving over 1,000 civilians during the Rwandan Genocide. ... Sophie Okonedo (born January 1, 1969) is an Academy Award-nominated British actress. ... Nicholas King Nolte (born February 8, 1941) is a Oscar-nominated American actor, model, and producer. ... Fana Mokoena is a South African actor. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... General Augustin Bizimungu Augustin Bizimungu is a former general in the Rwandan army. ... Joaquín Rafael Phoenix (pronounced IPA: ) (born October 28, 1974), formerly credited as Leaf Phoenix, is as a two-time Academy Award-nominated, Golden Globe and Grammy Award-winning Puerto Rican film actor. ... Jean Reno (born Juan Moreno y Herrera Jiménez (Spanish) [1][2] while French sources spell it as Don Juan Moreno y Herrera Jimenez [3]. on July 30, 1948) is a French actor. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Georges Anderson Nderubumwe Rutaganda (born 28 November 1958) is a Rwandan war criminal. ...

Similar films

• Shake Hands with the Devil (2007 film)
• Schindler's List
• Shooting Dogs
• Sometimes in April

Shake Hands being filmed in Kigali, July 2006 Shake Hands with the Devil is a Canadian dramatic feature film currently in production starring Roy Dupuis as Roméo Dallaire. ... This article is about the movie. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion, because: it is patent nonsense. ... Sometimes In April is a narrative film (not a documentary) detailing the Rwandan Genocide that occurred during 1994. ...

See also

• Rwandan Genocide
• Paul Rusesabagina
• Georges Ruggiu (the radio announcer)
• Million Voices - song from the film
• African Children's Choir

The Rwandan Genocide was the 1994 mass killing of the hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutu sympathizers in Rwanda and was the largest atrocity during the Rwandan Civil War. ... Paul Rusesabagina (born June 15, 1954) is a Rwandan who has been internationally honored for saving over 1,000 civilians during the Rwandan Genocide. ... Georges Henri Yvon Joseph Ruggiu (born 12 October 1957 in Verviers, Belgium) is a Belgian journalist and broadcaster, who worked in Rwanda for a radio station which promoted the Rwandan Genocide. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The African Childrens Choir is a large choir made up of children ages 7 to 11, from the nKomazi region in South Africa. ...

Notes

1. ^ Burr, Ty. "Hotel Rwanda Movie Review: Cheadle brings quiet power to 'Rwanda'". Boston Globe. Retrieved on 2007-04-09. 
2. ^ Gourevitch, Phillip. We Wish to Inform You That Tomorrow We Will be Killed With our Families. Picador. ISBN 0-31224-335-9. 
3. ^ Immortal Chaplains Prize, 2000: Paul Rusesabagina. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
4. ^ Goofs for Hotel Rwanda (2004) from imdb.com. Retrieved on June 11, 2007.
5. ^ Clinton Global Initiative. Voice of America. August 1, 2005. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
6. ^ Review at RottenTomatoes. Retrieved on 2006-12-21.
7. ^ The Internet Movie Database's Top 250 Movies. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
8. ^ AFI's 100 years . . . 100 cheers. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
9. ^ ^{a b} Ebert and Roeper's top ten movies of each year. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
10. ^ Roger Ebert reviews Hotel Rwanda. Dec. 22, 2004. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
11. ^ Quotes from various reviews of Hotel Rwanda. Excerpted by Rogert Ebert. Retrieved on 2007-04-09.
12. ^ Netflix Top 100. Retrieved on 2007-06-03.

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Rotten Tomatoes () is a website devoted to reviews and news of movies and video games. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 355th day of the year (356th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 99th day of the year (100th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 154th day of the year (155th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official site
• Hotel Rwanda at the Internet Movie Database
• Filming the Unfilmable - The challenge of the genocide movie
• Hotel Rwanda at the Arts & Faith Top100 Spiritually Significant Films list
• Don Cheadle interview for Hotel Rwanda
• Immortal Chaplains Foundation honors Rusesibagina, and affirms the movie's version of events