Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Xolani Mali | ... | Policeman |
Don Cheadle | ... | Paul Rusesabagina | |
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Desmond Dube | ... | Dube |
Hakeem Kae-Kazim | ... | George Rutaganda | |
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Tony Kgoroge | ... | Gregoire |
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Rosie Motene | ... | Receptionist |
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Neil McCarthy | ... | Jean Jacques |
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Mabutho 'Kid' Sithole | ... | Head Chef (as Kid Sithole) |
Nick Nolte | ... | Colonel Oliver | |
Fana Mokoena | ... | General Bizimungu | |
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Jeremiah Ndlovu | ... | Old Guard |
Sophie Okonedo | ... | Tatiana Rusesabagina | |
Lebo Mashile | ... | Odette | |
Antonio David Lyons | ... | Thomas Mirama | |
Leleti Khumalo | ... | Fedens |
1994. In Rwanda, the classification of the native population into Hutus and Tutsis, arbitrarily done by the colonial Belgians, is now ingrained within Rwandan mentality despite the Rwandan independence. Despite the Belgians having placed the Tutsis in a higher position during the Belgian rule, they have placed the majority Hutus in power after independence. Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu married to a Tutsi, Tatiana Rusesabagina, is the House Manager of the Hotel Des Milles Collines in Kigali. The Milles Collines, owned by Sabena (the national airline of Belgium), is a four-star hotel catering primarily to wealthy white westerners. Paul, who knows how to work the system to run the hotel effectively for its guests and for Sabena, is proud that most of the Caucasians who he meets in this professional capacity treat him with respect. After a specific incident, the relative calm between the Tutsi guerrillas and government-backed Hutu militia takes a turn. Paul's thought that the native ... Written by Huggo
I have no doubt that this is the only movie for the past year that can get me totally, if not 101%, emotionally involved. For other movies, I might be interacting with the story a lot , say associating my personal experiences with the characters, making judgment on them, criticizing the development of the story, ways of expression, the cinematography, acting, etc. BUT, Hotel Rwanda simply took me over as I was watching it. My emotion was going along with Paul ( Don Cheadle) all the time. The director did a great great job in capturing the feelings of people facing uncertainty, horror, ridicules, anger, death, waning faith... Family, life and dignity/integrity become the largest things in the situation. What's more is that it squarely shows the realist thinking in international politics.It honestly shows the weakness or helplessness of the UN and the non-governmental organizations. It truthfully tells how indifferent most of the international community (or individuals, which may or may not include you and me) are towards the deprivation of social justice taking place in other parts of the world. It makes you question to what extent that it is true to say what we see ( the sufferings in the world) is what we tolerate. It shows you how monstrous human being can be. It scares you how sanity would fail. At the same time, the uglier the people become, the more beautiful you find those who have managed to keep brave and maintain humanity. The movie fully succeeds in showing me the spirit, faith, and compassion that the world is dreaming for.