Hotel Rwanda (2004)

Director:

Terry George

Writers (WGA):

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

Release Date:

4 February 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | 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 | Refugee | Militia | Hotel Manager | Hutu

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 14 wins & 34 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
Kgomotso Seitshohlo	...	Anais
Lerato Mokgotho	...	Carine
Mosa Kaiser	...	Elys Rusesabagina
Mathabo Pieterson	...	Diane Rusesabagina
Ofentse Modiselle	...	Roger Rusesabagina
David O'Hara	...	David
Joaquin Phoenix	...	Jack Daglish
Lennox Mathabathe	...	Peter
Mothusi Magano	...	Benedict
Noxolo Maqashalala	...	Chloe - Prostitute
Thulani Nyembe	...	Jean Baptiste (as Thulane Nyembe)
Simo Mogwaza	...	Hutu Captain (as Simo Magwaza)
Mirriam Ngomani	...	Gregoire's Girlfriend
Cara Seymour	...	Pat Archer
Harriet Lenabe	...	Alice the Waitress (as Harriet Manamela)
Roberto Citran	...	Priest
Mduduzi Mabaso	...	Hutu Lieutenant
Sonni Chidiebere	...	Militiaman
Thomas Kariuki	...	Xavier
Sibusiso Mhlangu	...	Militiaman (as Sibusiso Mhlongo)
Ashleigh Tobias	...	Medic
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean Reno	...	Mr. Tillens - Sabena Airlines President (uncredited)

Directed by
Terry George

Writing credits (WGA)
Keir Pearson		(written by) &
Terry George		(written by)

Produced by
Sam Bhembe	....	executive producer
Roberto Cicutto	....	executive producer
Izidore Codron	....	co-executive producer
Sally French	....	line producer
Terry George	....	producer
A. Kitman Ho	....	producer
Martin Katz	....	executive producer (as Martin F Katz)
Francesco Melzi d'Eril	....	executive producer (as Francesco Melzi D'Eril)
Nicolas Meyer	....	co-executive producer
Luigi Musini	....	co-producer
Keir Pearson	....	co-executive producer
Bridget Pickering	....	co-producer
Duncan Reid	....	executive producer
Hal Sadoff	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Afro Celt Sound System
Rupert Gregson-Williams
Andrea Guerra

Cinematography by
Robert Fraisse		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Naomi Geraghty

Casting by
Moonyeenn Lee
Richard Pagano		(as Rick Pagano)

Production Design by
Johnny Breedt
Tony Burrough

Art Direction by
Emma MacDevitt

Set Decoration by
Estelle Ballack		(as Estelle 'Flo' Ballack)

Costume Design by
Ruy Filipe

Makeup Department
Suzanne Belcher	....	chief makeup artist
Angie Boshoff	....	crowd makeup artist
Tania Brooke	....	makeup artist
Jacques Gerber	....	crowd hairdresser
Charles Khoza	....	hair assistant
Marli Kruger	....	makeup assistant: extras
Gladys Tshidi Phokompe	....	makeup assistant
Lianne Scott	....	makeup assistant
Melissa Slabbert	....	makeup assistant
Suzanne Stokes-Munton	....	chief hairdresser

Production Management
Renier Gerhard Cordier	....	assistant unit manager
Oorlagh George	....	production manager: Kigali
A. Kitman Ho	....	unit production manager
Alistair Hopkins	....	post-production supervisor
Hendrik H. Spangenberg	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carin de Kock	....	second second assistant director (as Carin De Kock)
A. Kitman Ho	....	second unit director
Vincent Moloi	....	assistant director trainee
Alex Oakley	....	second assistant director (as Alexander Oakley)
Lance Roehrig	....	second second assistant director
Lionel Steketee	....	first assistant director
Chris van Latum	....	second second assistant director (as Christian Van Latum)

Art Department
Fourie Ackerman	....	head scenic (as Hermanus 'Fourie' Ackerman)
Paul Barker	....	greens assistant
Ray Berman	....	draughtsman
Ray Berman	....	storyboard artist
Ralf Buchmann	....	prop master
Marina Helena Constandse	....	art department runner
Graham Derrocks	....	construction foreman
Tamzin Ellett	....	art department coordinator
Bryn George	....	prop master
Brendan Gifford	....	stand-by carpenter
Mitch Gordon	....	greensman
Shira Hockman	....	draughtsman
Marsha Holtzhausen	....	scenic
Mohammed Hoosain	....	construction
Pieter Willem Kleinhaus	....	rigger
Pieter Willem Kleinhaus	....	welder
Melinda Launspach	....	scenic artist
Michel John Law	....	greens assistant (as Michael John Law)
Bongani Ledwaba	....	set dresser
Kerwin Macks	....	storeman
Marlon Macks	....	construction runner (as Marlon Brando Macks)
Louis Marais	....	construction foreman
Winston Mazibuko	....	set dresser
Alfred Mkwanazi	....	construction assistant
Bheki Mncube	....	props
Raymond Muller	....	construction manager (as Raymond G. Muller)
George Ndlovu	....	stand-by set dresser
Archibald Nkosi	....	set dresser
Richard Ntuli	....	scenic
Thomas Potsane	....	set dresser
Theron Ramatladi	....	props assistant
James Ryan	....	art department runner
Vicky Sawkins	....	assistant set dresser
Hertzog Schalekamp	....	draughtsman
Samson Sitole	....	assistant stand-by
Ralph Smit	....	storeman
Julian Stobbs	....	assistant greensman
James Lee Taylor	....	props buyer
Ashleigh Tobias	....	set dresser
Bob Toms	....	stand-by props
Isaac Tsotetsi	....	set dresser
Keith Ricardo Vander Vent	....	construction supervisor (as Keith Ricardo Van Der Vent)
Catharine Fletcher Incaprera	....	assistant art director (uncredited)
Michael Rossouw	....	junior carpenter (uncredited)
Michael Rossouw	....	props (uncredited)
Jackie Yau	....	set decorator: UK (uncredited)

Sound Department
Damiano Antinori	....	ProTools operator: Andrea Guerra's compositions
Peter Burgess	....	foley artist
Paul Carr	....	foley mixer
Doug Cooper	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Douglas Cooper)
Anneline De Kock	....	sound assistant
Andie Derrick	....	foley artist (as Andi Derrick)
Tom Johnson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Andy Kennedy	....	sound effects editor
Nick Lowe	....	adr editor
Conor Mackey	....	adr editor
John Midgley	....	production sound mixer
Nigel Mills	....	supervising sound editor
Mark Paterson	....	foley mixer
June Prinz	....	boom operator
Emily Reynolds	....	assistant sound editor
Ashley Seale	....	sound trainee
Nigel Stone	....	dialogue editor
David Sutton	....	boom operator
Andy Thompson	....	adr mixer
Mike Wood	....	foley editor
Vladislav Boyadjiev	....	sound assistant (uncredited)
Curt Cash	....	additional sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
Nick Foley	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Jim Petrak	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Jamie Roden	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
James Seddon	....	dolby consultant (uncredited)
Ted Swanscott	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
David Mahlangu	....	special effects coordinator
Gavin Meadon	....	special effects supervisor

Visual Effects by
Lyndy Brown	....	studio manager: Baseblack Ltd
Mike Connolly	....	senior compositor: Baseblack Ltd (as Michael Connolly)
Stephen Elson	....	visual effects producer: Baseblack Ltd
Per Karefelt	....	3d artist: Baseblack Ltd
John Kozak	....	systems administration: Baseblack Ltd
Donal Nolan	....	compositor: Baseblack Ltd
Chris Panton	....	effects animator: Baseblack Ltd
Chris Panton	....	senior compositor: Baseblack Ltd
Paul Poetsch	....	senior compositor: Baseblack Ltd
Petra Schwane	....	compositor: Baseblack Ltd
Clare Tinsley	....	visual effects coordinator: Baseblack Ltd
Val Wardlaw	....	3d lead: Baseblack Ltd
Val Wardlaw	....	visual effects supervisor: Baseblack Ltd
Tim Baxter	....	film recording (uncredited)

Stunts
Graham Press	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Blid Alsbirk	....	still photographer (as Karin Blid Alsbirk)
Simon Cave	....	electrician
Emmanuel Chonco	....	electrician
Frank Connor	....	special still photographer
Lars Cox	....	camera focus: "a" camera
Vincent G. Cox	....	camera operator: additional footage
Shani Hayward	....	camera loader: "a" camera
Kevin Jewison	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Troy Lee	....	camera loader: "b" camera
Alfred Manzini	....	electrician
Patric Mashilo	....	grip (as Patrick Mashilo)
Godfrey Nkese	....	generator operator
Charl Phyfer	....	key grip
Peter Sekele	....	video assist trainee
Kenneth Shange	....	second company grip
Mark Sherman	....	assistant lighting technician
Bruce Thomas	....	chief lighting technician
Derek Ueckermann	....	loader
Deon Vermeulen	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Deon Vermeulen	....	steadicam operator
Anton Wehmeyer	....	camera focus: "b" camera
Wesley Williams	....	grip

Casting Department
Vanessa Baker	....	voice casting
Brendan Donnison	....	voice casting
Janet Farris	....	casting associate (uncredited)
Belinda Kruger	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Izelle Borejszo	....	wardrobe assistant (as Zelle Borejszo)
Sannah Happy Dedibe	....	seamstress
Mathilda Engelbrecht	....	pattern cutter
Melanie Finch	....	wardrobe
Tamlin French	....	wardrobe
Melissa Gates	....	wardrobe assistant
Peta Hunter	....	wardrobe mistress
Melanie Lubbe	....	wardrobe assistant
Natalie Lundon	....	wardrobe assistant
Thembi Madladla	....	wardrobe assistant (as Thembi Faith Madlala)
Vivienne Mahloko	....	wardrobe trainee
Ada Meyer	....	wardrobe assistant
Brenda Mogale	....	seamstress
Rose Ntombi Parker	....	seamstress
Zahele Rathlepe	....	seamstress
Shelele Sekhu	....	wardrobe assistant
Natacha T. Stevens	....	wardrobe assistant (as Natasha T. Stevens)
Warren Van Niekerk	....	wardrobe runner
Johannes Christian Vorster	....	wardrobe

Editorial Department
Lisa Clifford-Owen	....	assistant editor
Thato Segoto	....	trainee: editing
Arturo Sosa	....	post-production consultant
Nicci Van Niekerk	....	assistant editor (as Christelle Nicole Van Niekerk)
Verity Wislocki	....	post-production coordinator
Kenny Becker	....	final color timer (uncredited)
Louise Mycielski	....	rushes telecine supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Lorne Balfe	....	music programmer: Rupert Gregson-Williams' compositions
Becky Bentham	....	music supervisor: Hot House Music
Budd Carr	....	executive music supervisor
Simon Changer	....	track laying: Rupert Gregson-Williams' compositions
Michael Connell	....	music editor
Coro Da Camera Del C.I.M.A.	....	choir: Andrea Guerra's compositions
Mario Crispi	....	musician: ethnic woods soloist, Andrea Guerra's compositions
Guy Fletcher	....	music mixer: A-Bay Studios, Rupert Gregson-Williams' compositions
Rebecca Gatrell	....	music supervisor: Hot House Music (as Becca Gatrell)
Andrea Guerra	....	orchestrator: Andrea Guerra's compositions
Christian Henson	....	music programmer: Rupert Gregson-Williams' compositions
Alastair King	....	additional score arranger: Rupert Gregson-Williams' compositions
Giannandrea Mazza	....	maestro assistant: Andrea Guerra's compositions
Dorothee Munyaneza	....	musician: 'tall trees' featured vocals, Andrea Guerra's compositions
Gianfranco Plenizio	....	conductor: Andrea Guerra's compositions
Tony Puia	....	midi programmer: Andrea Guerra's compositions
Luca Salvadori	....	orchestrator: Andrea Guerra's compositions
Marco Streccioni	....	music engineer: Andrea Guerra's compositions
Attilio Tucci	....	music assistant engineer: Andrea Guerra's compositions
Nora Felder	....	executive music producer (uncredited)
Joe Henson	....	music programmer (uncredited)
Asen Kanchev	....	music production manager (uncredited)
Tracy McKnight	....	executive soundtrack producer (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Sean Berkhout	....	transport manager
Steven David Clayton	....	assistant action vehicle coordinator
Jimmy Davies	....	action vehicles coordinator
Pieter De Lange	....	action vehicles coordinator
Eugene Kok	....	action vehicle assistant
Elias Makhanya	....	driver
Albert Maphosho	....	driver
Gabriel Mashaba	....	driver (as Gabriel Machaba)
Lesiba Joe Mphela	....	transport coordinator
Hodges Sibeko	....	driver
Jannie Visser	....	transport coordinator

Other crew
Alison Brister	....	legal: Ingenious Films
Cher Budd	....	assistant: Terry George
Elaine Burt	....	production coordinator
Rita Dal Chiappa	....	production secretary: Mikado Film
Gert Cordier	....	medic
Felicity Downing	....	assistant accountant
Michael David Driscoll	....	armorer
Cheryl Eatock	....	production runner
Jana Eramus	....	assistant production coordinator
Clair Evans	....	assistant crowd coordinator
Janice Finegan	....	medic
Nicholas Finegan	....	medic
Ferdinanda Frangipane	....	production delegate: Italy. Mikado Film
Retha Geldenhuys	....	accounts assistant
Bob Gibson	....	army advisor
Rob Harris	....	publicity consultant
Natalie Hook	....	assistant: Don Cheadle
Leigh Human	....	production travel
Paula Jalfon	....	physical production: Ingenious Films
Raymond Kalisa	....	assistant production coordinator: Kigali
Paul Kamera	....	production assistant: Kigali
Ashley Kravitz	....	script clearance: Joan Pearce Research Associates
Darryl Kruger	....	base camp manager
Brian Letlhabane	....	assistant: Terry George
M.J. Magbanua	....	consultant: special projects
Sirish Malde	....	auditor: Malde & Co.
Joseph Malele	....	production runner
Arthur Manson	....	producer's representative
Steven Maresch	....	unit publicist
Ciara McGowan	....	assistant production coordinator
David Mellor	....	post-production accountant
Hugo Mellor	....	assistant post-production accountant
Sello Molefe	....	training coordinator
Leon Morenzie	....	dialect coach
Duma Nkosi	....	script supervisor trainee
Claribel Nkwili	....	production assistant
Brawley Nolte	....	assistant: Nick Nolte
Elisabetta Olmi	....	edition coordinator: Mikado Film
Vincent Thuso Paneng	....	assistant: Sophie Okonedo
Matt Polish	....	assistant: Nick Nolte
Fiona Ramsey	....	dialect coach
Neo Raphoto	....	production trainee
Paul Rusesabagina	....	consultant
Ashok Shah	....	auditor: Malde & Co.
Diana Sikhosana	....	production office craft
Nanie Taylor	....	tutor
Bruce Thackwell	....	location manager
Alistair Thompson	....	production accountant
Jane Trower	....	first assistant accountant
Melvin Van Ross	....	cashier
Lisa Vick	....	script supervisor
Danielle Gia Vinokur	....	location assistant
Bruce Wentzel	....	armorer
Hendrix White	....	on-set mechanic
David Williams	....	crowd coordinator
Janine Williams	....	production accommodation
Danny Wimborne	....	assistant: Terry George
Lesley Wise	....	legal: Ingenious Films
Michael Barnes	....	financial legal services (uncredited)
Scott Challgren	....	legal assistant (uncredited)
Richard Harding	....	consultant (uncredited)
Rachel James	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Richard McCarthy	....	freight coordinator (uncredited)
Michael S. Murphey	....	film finances representative (uncredited)
Robert Nickson	....	financing (uncredited)
Chris Roland	....	production & financing consultant (uncredited)

Thanks
Joseph Demali	....	the producers wish to thank: Kigali, Rwanda
Basil Ford	....	the producers wish to thank: The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa
Jean Baptiste Gasisira	....	the producers wish to thank: Kigali, Rwanda
Anita Haguma	....	the producers wish to thank: Kigali, Rwanda
Khalipha Edward Mbalo	....	the producers wish to thank: The National Film and Video Foundation of South Africa
Zama Mkosi	....	the producers wish to thank: The Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa
Mogopodi Mokoena	....	the producers wish to thank: Director General of Gauteng Provisional Government
Jean De Dieu Ntiruhungwa	....	the producers wish to thank: Kigali, Rwanda
Odette Nyiramilimo	....	the producers wish to thank: Kigali, Rwanda
Mbhazima Shilowa	....	the producers wish to thank: Premier of Gauteng Provisional Government
Themba Sibeko	....	the producers wish to thank: Gauteng Film Office

Production Companies

• United Artists (presents)
• Lions Gate Films (in association with) (as Lions Gate Entertainment)
• Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (in association with)
• Miracle Pictures (as Miracle Pictures/Seamus)
• Inside Track Films (in association with)
• Mikado Film (produced in association with)
• Endgame Entertainment (in association with) (as Endgame Entertainment Fund I, LLC)
• Sixth Sense Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• United Artists (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (An MGM Company)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Hollywood Classic Entertainment (2005) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• LNK Audiovisuais (2005) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films (2004) (worldwide) (theatrical) (A Lions Gate Entertainment Company)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Mikado (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• On Pictures (2005) (Spain) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2005) (Finland) (theatrical) (DVD) (VHS)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2005) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2005) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Divisa Home Video (2013) (Spain) (DVD)
• Eagle Films (2004) (Non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• Entertainment in Video (2005) (UK) (DVD)
• Giangiacomo Feltrinelli Editore (2005) (Italy) (DVD)
• Hollydan Works (2006-????) (Serbia and Montenegro) (DVD)
• Hollydan Works (2007) (Yugoslavia) (DVD)
• IPA Asia Pacific (2005) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Imagem Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (VHS) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Medyavizyon (2005) (Turkey) (all media)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM)
• My Network TV (2008) (USA) (TV) (network premiere)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Television (????) (USA) (TV)
• Star Entertainment (2005) (India) (all media)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2007) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)

Special Effects

• Baseblack (visual effects)
• Capital FX (opticals)

Other Companies

• A-Bay Studios  music mixed at: Rupert Gregson-Williams' compositions
• AFM Lighting  lighting equipment (as AFM Lighting, South Africa)
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance
• Bank Leumi  financing provided by
• Commotion Records  soundtrack released by (uncredited)
• Falco Ink.  publicity
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Fintage House  collection account management
• Forum Music Village  score recording and mixing: Andrea Guerra's compositions (as Forum Music Village, Roma)
• Goldcrest Post Production London  post-production sound services
• Hothouse Music  music supervision (as Hot House Music)
• Joan Pearce Research Associates  script clearances
• Kodak  motion picture film
• Liquid Studio  video equipment
• Logical Designs  grip equipment (as MCC Logical Designs)
• Mad Dog Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• Malde & Co.  auditors
• Media Services  stationery supplier: post production
• Metal Moon Marketing  unit publicity
• Olswang  legal affairs
• Panacam Africa (Pty) Ltd.  camera equipment
• Post Logic Studios  digital intermediate (uncredited)
• Professional Negative Cutting  negative cutting (as PNC)
• Rwandan Survivors Fund (SURF)  part of the profits of this film shall go to (as The Rwandese Survivors Fund)
• SIF309 Film & Music Productions  film score recording (uncredited)
• Sapex Scripts  post-production script services
• Sargent Disc  payroll services (as Sargent-Disc Ltd., London)
• Sud Ovest Records  music production: Andrea Guerra's compositions
• The Movie Camera Company  film stock
• Thosa Security  security
• Video Lab  telecine (as The Video Lab)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 on appeal for violence, disturbing images and brief strong language (re-rating on appeal)

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:

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 | Brazil:14 | Indonesia:Dewasa | Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Hungary:14 | Argentina:13 | South Korea:12 | Malaysia:18PL (DVD) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

Nick Nolte's character (Col. Oliver) is modeled in part on Lt. Gen. Roméo Dallaire, the Canadian commanding officer of the UN Peacekeeping mission in that country who attempted to interfere with the Rwandan Genocide despite his superiors' indifference to the atrocity. Dallaire was also the subject of Sundance audience award documentary Shake Hands with the Devil: The Journey of Roméo Dallaire (2004), and witnessed such horrible acts in Rwanda that he later suffered severe post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite these facts, this is the only fictional character (name and facts) depicted in the film.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Camera crew visible in the bus window at the beginning of the movie.

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 "Zomergasten: Episode #18.6" (2005)

Soundtrack:

Million Voices

A stunning picture about the real life story of a man who accomplished the extraordinary.

Rwanda 1994. The genocide of the Hutus and the Tutsis sadly commenced. The Hutu militia broke the peace of the country as they started killing any Tutsis in their sight as they called them "cockroaches". This all goes back to when Belgium took the country and sorted out the Rwandan people by shades of colour, nose size and more as it is briefly explained at the beginning of the film.

Hotel Rwanda however does not focus on the graphicness of the wars or the humanity that occurred. It focuses on the true-life story of Paul Rusesabagina and his amazing, heroic struggle. Don Cheadle plays Paul Rusesabagina magnificently as a hotel manager who housed over 1000 Tutsis in the Hotel Des Milles Collines. When all hell broke loose on Rwandan soil, he was there to shelter people in need.

Hotel Rwanda is not only an amazingly done drama but is also educational. It shows the real life events with all the details showing how France, England, Canada, and the U.N helped during the disaster. Nick Nolte plays Colonel Oliver, a Canadian soldier from the U.N who is there at the beginning of the film to help with the peace agreement. Later on, him and other Canadian soldiers are relied to help Paul and the rest of the people during the wars. His character is roughly based on the Canadian war hero Romeo Dallaire who wrote his award winning book, Shaking Hands with the Devil. Nick Nolte's performance is fabulous as he brings Colonel Oliver to life.

Sophie Okonedo superbly plays Tatiana, Paul's wife as she gives a stunning performance. She truly did a magnificent job with her stellar, dramatic talent revealed from this film. Joaquin Phoenix gives a gratifying, exceptional performance as an American cameraman there to visually capture the wars on film.

The real story here is Don Cheadle. With his absolutely extraordinary role, he carries the film on his shoulders. Definitely an astonishing, breathtaking performance, which is one of the best of the year. Don Cheadle's performance is so moving, emotional and so remarkable that he is at his absolute best ever.

The film's flaws are hardly noticed. During the intro, it has the documentary feel and seems hard to get into but after only 5 minutes, you get inside Rwanda and live the strong story of survival and heroic, epic events. Also, from a film like this, I expected more inspirational speeches from Paul Rusesabagina, but his actions and his emotions displayed are more than enough to compensate.

The film's cinematography and editing are well down. The direction Terry George brings to the screen is a calm but strong feel that sternly keeps you in the film as there is no place in the film without a small slight of suspense or tension. Even at some parts of this film, the constant, building tension is relieved with some nice jokes that fit right in. Terry George and his partner Keir Pearson cleverly do this as they beautifully bring their screenplay to life. One thing I loved about this film was during the most emotional times, the songs with the African children singers added to an already perfect atmosphere of sadness or emotional struggle. It was truly beautiful when these songs played as we watched the actions of Paul and his wife at the same time.

This film currently sits at #8 on my Best of the 2000's chart, as it is truly that good. One thing that absolutely got me furious was that this film was not nominated for Best Picture for this year's Oscars. With filth like Finding Neverland in the category, I really wonder how the Academy snubbed this one out. This film will never be forgotten, as I will undoubtedly buy this film on the first day its DVD is released.

Overall, Hotel Rwanda is a truly moving, stunning and inspirational masterpiece. The acting is some of the best this year and Terry George does a superb direction job. As for Oscars, Don Cheadle got a nomination for this role and I'm truly proud for saying that. Even more so for Sophie Okonedo as she truly did a magnificent job for a supporting role. This year, I hope either Don Cheadle or Jamie Foxx (for his absolutely extraordinary role for Ray) win Best Actor and I hope Sophie Okonedo takes the Best Supporting Actress statue. As for Best Original Screenplay, Hotel Rwanda can easily take it if it can beat Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. On a closing note, I must say that I strongly recommend that all should view this masterpiece as it educates everyone on the disasters that occurred back in '94. If you truly believe and have faith, the extraordinary can be accomplished and Paul Rusesabagina proved this to us.

My Rating: 9/10 (A High 9)

Eliason A.