Nearly a million people died in Rwanda over three months in 1994. At least 2.3 million more have died since 1998 in continuing conflicts in eastern Congo, compounded by famine and disease. In Southern Sudan, millions of Africans have died in a conflict that goes back four decades, and in past years, the conflict and genocide has spread to the Darfur region. The disaster in Rwanda in 1994 could have been avoided, as the signs were all there. The Hutu Power Radio had been calling for the extermination of “cockroaches”. The Canadian Commander of the UN Forces, Major General Roméo Dallaire, had requested a doubling of his troops to 5,000 - instead they were reduced to 270 following the killing of 10 Belgian soldiers. The northern powers were pre-occupied with events in former Yugoslavia.
Anthony Lake, who was President Clinton’s National Security Adviser, has admitted that Rwanda was not on their agenda in 1994. The US had pulled out of Somalia after losing 18 soldiers, and simply was not interested in what was happening in Rwanda. The State Department even banned the use of the word “genocide” in relation to Rwanda. The movie “Hotel Rwanda” was nominated for various awards, Oscars, Golden Globes, and Golden Lions. The focus of the film is not the genocide, but how different people reacted to it and the true story of Paul Rusesabagina (acted with great restraint by Don Cheadle), his wife Tatiana (Sophie Okonedo) and their children. Paul worked at the four-star Hotel des Milles Collines in Kigali, owned by Sabena in Belgium.
Paul, who at the start of the conflict was House Manager at the hotel, had learned from his superiors the importance of style, of giving favours - and being able to collect ones in return later - and from his own roots, the art of saying “Yes” while actually saying “No”. It was these skills that in the end saved his life and those of 1,268 other people, Hutu and Tutsi. There is a wonderful scene where he confesses to Tatiana that he had decided to marry her, so he bribed her Minister to get her transferred to Kigali-she then wants to know what she was worth!
Paul, at first, refuses to believe what is happening. It is only when he sees a newsreel film just made by Jack (Joaquin Phoenix) near the hotel that he begins to understand. Then on a trip into the city to get supplies, the Hutu leader, George Rutaganda (Hakeem Kae-Kazim), who says to him that they are only half-way there (with half-a-million dead), the graves are not yet full, and then suggests he return by the River Road. It is so lined with bodies that when Paul, back at the hotel, tries to cleanse himself, the shock overwhelms him-he can’t even tie his tie. He expects the UN to help, for the northern powers to intervene, but Colonel Oliver (Nick Nolte playing a composite role) tells him “You should spit in my face”, but for a long time Paul can’t comprehend what he is saying-that you are Africans and have been abandoned to your fate. For a time Paul wins a reprieve through his friend General Bizimungu (Fana Mokoena) and his ability to convince him of future dangers.
Then the General announces, “No more protection, no more police, let the UN take care of you”. He knows they can’t.
“Hotel Rwanda” was many years in the making. The script, once launched, went through revisions. Visits were made to Belgium, where Paul Rusesabagina now lives. It became a joint British, Italian and South African production. Leleti Khumalo even has a bit part in the film.
The movie was made in Kigali and in Johannesburg with most of the people in it coming from Alexandra and Tembisi.The DVD was released in April 2005. It has a number of interesting features, beyond the normal trailer. There are three commentaries: Don Cheadle on certain scenes; by Terry George and the real Paul Rusesabagina; and another on the music by Wyclef Jean.
In addition there are two documentaries: one on the making of the movie; the other featuring Paul Rusesabagina when he returned to visit Rwanda from Belgium.
“Hotel Rwanda” is two hours and two minutes long. It is rated 13 PG. It is in colour and in English.
Terry George is the director and he wrote the script with Keir Pearson and in consultation with Paul Rusesabagina.
The cinematographer is Robert Fraisse; the editor is Naomi Geraghty; and the music is by Andrea Guerra, Rupert Gregson-Williams and Afro Celt Sound System.
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