Hotel Rwanda (2004)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Terry George

Writers (WGA):

Keir Pearson (written by) &
Terry George (written by)

Release Date:

4 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Thriller | War

Tagline:

A true story of a man who fought impossible odds to save everyone he could and created a place where hope survived.

Plot:

The true-life story of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager who housed over a thousand Tutsi refugees during their struggle against the Hutu militia in Rwanda.

Plot Keywords:

Hotel | Rwanda | Militia | Hotel Manager | Atrocity

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 12 wins & 29 nominations

Cast

Xolani Mali	...	Policeman
Don Cheadle	...	Paul Rusesabagina
Desmond Dube	...	Dube
Hakeem Kae-Kazim	...	George Rutaganda
Tony Kgoroge	...	Gregoire
Rosie Motene	...	Receptionist
Neil McCarthy	...	Jean Jacques
Mabutho 'Kid' Sithole	...	Head Chef (as Kid Sithole)
Nick Nolte	...	Colonel Oliver
Fana Mokoena	...	General Bizimungu
Jeremiah Ndlovu	...	Old Guard
Sophie Okonedo	...	Tatiana Rusesabagina
Lebo Mashile	...	Odette
Antonio David Lyons	...	Thomas Mirama
Leleti Khumalo	...	Fedens

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for violence, disturbing images and brief strong language.

Runtime:

121 min

Country:

UK | USA | Italy | South Africa

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Indonesia:Dewasa | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Hungary:14 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:12 | Malaysia:18PL (DVD) | Sweden:15 | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Ireland:12A | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A (original rating) | UK:12 (video rating) (2005) | USA:PG-13 (re-rating on appeal) (certificate #41018) | USA:R (original rating) | New Zealand:M | Philippines:R-13

Filming Locations:

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

Director Terry George had Don Cheadle in mind for the lead part from the beginning of his involvement. During pre-production, potential investors and interested studios wanted Denzel Washington, Wesley Snipes, Mekhi Phifer and even Will Smith because of their suggested bigger drawing capacity at the box office. But due to ultimately producing the film independently and coming up with the money himself, George was able to go back to his original choice.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the last chapter, When Tatiana is looking for the pictures of her lost little nieces, we first see the pictures with two question marks under it. Five seconds later, the picture is blank.

Quotes:

[first lines]
George Rutaganda: [voiceover] When people ask me, good listeners, why do I hate all the Tutsi, I say, "Read our history." The Tutsi were collaborators for the Belgian colonists, they stole our Hutu land, they whipped us. Now they have come back, these Tutsi rebels. They are cockroaches...

Movie Connections:

Featured in 36th NAACP Image Awards (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Whispered Song with Inanga Accompaniment

One of the most inspiring films I've ever seen.

I have just seen this film and have to say I am deeply moved by it. The premise of the film is about one mans struggle to do the right thing at when everything around him is going wrong.

Don Cheadle is the best African American actor out there. His passion and heart was so strong that moved me almost to tears. There is a definite wish here to let this story to be known to the world.

Its powerful and provocative in its indirect and subtle jabs at the west for not intervening into such a horror that took place in Rwanda.

Very well made and directed. Please see this and let it inspire you as it did me - to try cultivate selfless actions.

Thanks, Ricky Thind