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Amazon.co.uk Review
Solidly built around a subtle yet commanding performance by Don Cheadle, Hotel Rwanda emerged as one of the most highly-praised dramas of 2004. In a role that demands his quietly riveting presence in nearly every scene, Cheadle plays real-life hero Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager in the Rwandan capital of Kigali who in 1994 saved 1,200 Rwandan "guests" from certain death during the genocidal clash between tribal Hutus, who slaughtered a million victims, and the horrified Tutsis, who found safe haven or died. Giving his best performance since his breakthrough role in Devil in a Blue Dress, Cheadle plays Rusesabagina as he really was during the ensuing chaos: "an expert in situational ethics" (as described by critic Roger Ebert), doing what he morally had to do, at great risk and potential sacrifice, with an understanding that wartime negotiations are largely a game of subterfuge, cooperation, and clever bribery. Aided by a United Nations official (Nick Nolte), he worked a saintly miracle, and director Terry George (Some Mother's Son) brings formidable social conscience to bear on a true story you won't soon forget. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Based on a true story, Hotel Rwanda is by far one of the most powerful and emotionally stirring films I've seen this year. Terry George's second film shows us that we can expect great things from this man. It seems his pairing with Jim Sheridan has allowed him to learn so much from him and exibits that he has learnt everything there is to know from the great director and become one himself. The film takes place during the genocide in Rwanda when the Hutu extremists commenced a mass slauter of the Tutsi minority. While the killing happened all that the western powers did was ignore this atrocity until the Tutsi rebels had driven the extremists out. This story is about Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle) a Hutu who used the hotel he ran to save the lives of innocent Tutsis by sheltering them within the hotel. Cheadle gives a powerful performance as the wealthy manager who cleverly uses his high connections with both the western world and Hutu officials to save as many as he could. Hotel Rwanda's most impressive scene is when the western countries order that all their citizens be evacuated. George masterfully makes you feel shame (if you live in a western country) that your country participated in that and turned a blind eye to the death that was going on in Rwanda in that order of cowardice. I highly recommend this film if you have even the slightest interest, I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is painful viewing, but only from the rollercoaster of emotions you will experience. You will become absorbed by the raw power of this film. You will feel anger,desperation and humility in equal amounts. On a par with the equally excellent Killing Fields, the over-riding questions at the end of the film are how and why this happened. It is a sad inditement of the West and the UN that they did so little, so late. Out of adversity comes hope, out of madness comes sanity. A truly remarkable film. A truly remarkable man.....
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This movie is a powerful portrayal of man's inhumanity to man. Don Cheadle's performance is magnificent, along side that of Sophie Okonedo, as the manager of the Hotel des Collines in the Rwandan capital Kigali. From the very beginning there is a growing sense of foreboding as Cheadle's character persuades, bribes and ultimately begs in order to save the lives of those who seek shelter in his hotel. Abandoned by the West, their only hope lies with an ineffective UN force led by Colonel Oliver (Nick Nolte), Cheadle has only his wiles and experience to carry him through. As the unrest and violence escalate the tension rises and never lets up.
I'm unsure as to whether my experience of this film was coloured by my previous knowledge of the Rwandan war. Nevertheless I was left feeling wrung-out by the end of the movie, having been alternately horrified, disgusted and appalled by the abandonment of the Rwandan people to their fate, this punctuated by brief, heart-warming moments of human courage in the face of lethal adversity.
Human drama at its best.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
UNFORGETABLE VIEWING
This is a shocking, sad and moving tale of one man and his heroic efforts to save the lives of his family and over 1000 of his fellow citizens in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 that... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Garren Hews
A haunting, shocking film
This is a film that haunts you long after you've seen it. What happened in Rwanda in 1994 was genocide--and more shocking than the events themselves was the fact that the... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Suroor Alikhan
Exellent but uncomfortable to watch in places
An eye opening account of true events that took place in Rwanda. Exceptionally good acting and didn't pull any punches.
Published 15 months ago by Owlet Cottage
An outstanding piece of education
I strongly disagree with the reviewer who states "children should not be shown this film". As a teacher in English secondary schools [pupils of 11-18] I wholeheartedly support my... Read more
Published 15 months ago by Mr. A. Seaton
One of the best films I have ever seen.
This film is brilliant. I watched it over a year ago and it still pops into my head every now and again. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Lish
Hotel Rwanda
Good film, brought it as a present for my sister, came in good condition, very quick delivery, pleased with this purchase
Published 18 months ago by marci
make you think!
a good film that makes you think what horrors go on in the world.do not miss it.
Published 22 months ago by Mr. D. A. Land
harrowing greatness
this is an incredible film,and harrowing.I got this but could only watch it the once affected me so much I had to pass it on to someone else. Read more
Published 22 months ago by R. Poole
Powerful film - and a great example of adaptive leadership in...
I remember being strongly impressed by this film when I saw it in the cinema. Recently, I was asked to watch this film again as part of a 'Building Personal Leadership' program. Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2010 by Belina Raffy
didnt enjoy. Didnt portray the true horror of the genocide
I really wanted to like this film as the Rwandan Genocide is a forgotten piec of history that needs to be brought into public awareness. Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2009 by Mr. M. G. Daniels
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