essay about hotel rwanda

A hotel ‘diplomat’ offers sanctuary from genocide

Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo in "Hotel Rwanda."

You do not believe you can kill them all?

Why not? Why not? We are halfway there already.

In 1994 in Rwanda, a million members of the Tutsi tribe were killed by members of the Hutu tribe in a massacre that took place while the world looked away. “Hotel Rwanda” is not the story of that massacre. It is the story of a hotel manager who saved the lives of 1,200 people by being, essentially, a very good hotel manager.

The man is named Paul Rusesabagina, and he is played by Don Cheadle as a man of quiet, steady competence in a time of chaos. This is not the kind of man the camera silhouettes against mountaintops, but the kind of man who knows how things work in the real world, who uses his skills of bribery, flattery, apology and deception to save these lives who have come into his care.

I have known a few hotel managers fairly well, and I think if I were hiring diplomats, they would make excellent candidates. They speak several languages. They are discreet. They know how to function appropriately in different cultures. They know when a bottle of scotch will repay itself six times over. They know how to handle complaints. And they know everything that happens under their roof, from the millionaire in the penthouse to the bellboy who can get you a girl.

Paul is such a hotel manager. He is a Hutu, married to a Tutsi named Tatiana ( Sophie Okonedo ). He has been trained in Belgium and runs the four-star Hotel Des Milles Collines in the capital city of Kigali. He does his job very well. He understands that when a general’s briefcase is taken for safekeeping, it contains bottles of good scotch when it is returned. He understands that to get the imported beer he needs, a bribe must take place. He understands that his guests are accustomed to luxury, which must be supplied even here in a tiny central African nation wedged against Tanzania, Uganda and the Congo. Do these understandings make him a bad man? Just the opposite. They make him an expert on situational ethics. The result of all the things he knows is that the hotel runs well and everyone is happy.

Then the genocide begins, suddenly, but after a long history. Rwanda’s troubles began, as so many African troubles began, when European colonial powers established nations that ignored traditional tribal boundaries. Enemy tribes were forced into the same land. For years in Rwanda under the Belgians, the Tutsis ruled and killed not a few Hutu. Now the Hutus are in control, and armed troops prowl the nation, killing Tutsis.

There is a United Nations “presence” in Rwanda, represented by Col. Oliver ( Nick Nolte ). He sees what is happening, informs his superiors, asks for help and intervention, and is ignored. Paul Rusesabagina informs the corporate headquarters in Brussels of the growing tragedy, but the hotel in Kigali is not the chain’s greatest concern. Finally it comes down to these two men acting as free-lancers to save more than a thousand lives they have somehow become responsible for.

When “Hotel Rwanda” premiered at Toronto 2004, some reviews criticized the film for focusing on Paul and the colonel, and making little effort to “depict” the genocide as a whole. But director Terry George and writer Keir Pearson have made exactly the correct decision. A film cannot be about a million murders, but it can be about how a few people respond. Paul, as it happens, is a real person, and Col. Oliver is based on one, and “Hotel Rwanda” is about what they really did. The story took shape after Pearson visited Rwanda and heard of a group of people who were saved from massacre.

Cheadle holds his performance resolutely at the human level. His character intuitively understands that only by continuing to act as a hotel manager can he achieve anything. His hotel is hardly functioning, the economy has broken down, the country is ruled by anarchy, but he puts on his suit and tie every morning and fakes business as usual — even on a day he is so frightened, he cannot tie his tie.

He deals with a murderous Hutu general, for example, not as an enemy or an outlaw, but as a longtime client who knows that the value of a good cigar cannot be measured in cash. Paul has trained powerful people in Kigali to consider the Hotel Des Milles Collines an oasis of sophistication and decorum, and now he pretends that is still the case. It isn’t, but it works as a strategy because it cues a different kind of behavior; a man who has yesterday directed a mass murder might today want to show that he knows how to behave appropriately in the hotel lobby.

Nolte’s performance is also in a precise key. He came to Rwanda as a peacekeeper, and now there is no peace to keep. The nations are united in their indifference toward Rwanda. In real life, Nolte’s bad-boy headlines distract from his acting gifts; here his character is steady, wise, cynical and a master of the possible. He makes a considered choice in ignoring his orders and doing what he can do, right now, right here, to save lives.

How the 1,200 people come to be “guests” in the hotel is a chance of war. Some turn left, some right, some live, some die. Paul is concerned above all with his own family. As a Hutu, he is safe, but his wife is Tutsi, his children are threatened, and in any event, he is far beyond thinking in tribal terms. He has spent years storing up goodwill and now he calls in favors. He moves the bribery up another level. He hides people in his hotel. He lies. He knows how to use a little blackmail: Sooner or later, he tells a powerful general, the world will take a reckoning of what happened in Kigali, and if Paul is not alive to testify for him, who else will be believed?

This all succeeds as riveting drama. “Hotel Rwanda” is not about hotel management, but about heroism and survival. Rusesabagina rises to the challenge. The film works not because the screen is filled with meaningless special effects, formless action and vast digital armies, but because Cheadle, Nolte and the filmmakers are interested in how two men choose to function in an impossible situation. Because we sympathize with these men, we are moved by the film.

Deep movie emotions for me usually come not when the characters are sad, but when they are good.

You will see what I mean.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Hotel Rwanda

• Sophie Okonedo as Tatiana
• Don Cheadle as Paul Rusesabagina
• Joaquin Phoenix as Jack
• Nick Nolte as Col. Oliver
• Keir Pearson
• Terry George

Leave a comment

Now playing.

A Real Pain

Music by John Williams

Soundtrack to a Coup d’État

No Other Land

Emilia Pérez

Youth (Hard Times)

The Graduates

Cellar Door

After: Poetry Destroys Silence

Latest articles.

Centenarian Icons Celebrated During Wellness Warrior Weekend 

The Unloved, Part 131: Dark City

London Film Festival 2024 Highlights

The Private is Public: On the 10th Anniversary of “Nightcrawler”

The best movie reviews, in your inbox.

Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Movies — Hotel Rwanda

Essays on Hotel Rwanda

When it comes to choosing a topic for an essay on the movie Hotel Rwanda, there are countless options to explore. The film, directed by Terry George and released in 2004, is based on the true story of hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina, who sheltered over a thousand Tutsi refugees during the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The movie is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of the human capacity for both cruelty and compassion, and it offers a wealth of material for analysis and discussion.

Portrayal of the International Community

One possible essay topic is the portrayal of the international community in Hotel Rwanda. Throughout the film, Rusesabagina desperately seeks help from foreign diplomats and peacekeepers, only to be met with indifference and inaction. This raises important questions about the responsibilities of the global community in the face of humanitarian crises. An essay on this topic could explore the reasons behind the international community's failure to intervene in the Rwandan genocide, as well as the broader implications for the concept of global responsibility.

Role of the Media

Another compelling essay topic is the role of the media in shaping public perception of the genocide. In Hotel Rwanda, we see journalists and camera crews capturing the horrors unfolding in Rwanda, yet their footage fails to prompt meaningful intervention from the outside world. This raises important questions about the power and limitations of media representation in influencing public opinion and driving political action. An essay on this topic could examine the ways in which the media portrayed the genocide, as well as the ethical and practical challenges of reporting on such atrocities.

Character of Paul Rusesabagina

A third possible essay topic is the character of Paul Rusesabagina and his moral dilemma. Throughout the film, Rusesabagina grapples with the impossible choice of protecting his family and hotel guests while risking his own life, or prioritizing his own survival. This raises profound questions about the nature of moral courage and the complexities of ethical decision-making in the face of extreme adversity. An essay on this topic could delve into Rusesabagina's internal struggle and the broader implications for our understanding of heroism and sacrifice.

Psychological Impact of the Genocide

Another potential essay topic is the psychological impact of the genocide on its survivors. In Hotel Rwanda, we see the devastating effects of trauma and loss on the characters who endure the violence and chaos of the genocide. This raises important questions about the long-term psychological and emotional consequences of mass violence, as well as the challenges of healing and rebuilding in its aftermath. An essay on this topic could explore the experiences of the survivors in the film and consider the broader implications for our understanding of trauma and resilience.

Legacy of the Rwandan Genocide

A final essay topic to consider is the legacy of the Rwandan genocide and its relevance to contemporary issues. The events depicted in Hotel Rwanda are a stark reminder of the human capacity for violence and cruelty, as well as the urgent need for vigilance and action in the face of hatred and injustice. An essay on this topic could examine the ways in which the lessons of the Rwandan genocide continue to resonate today, as well as the ongoing efforts to prevent similar atrocities in the future.

The choice of essay topics for Hotel Rwanda is rich and varied, offering a wealth of possibilities for exploration and analysis. Whether delving into the complexities of international intervention, the power of media representation, the moral dilemmas faced by individuals, the psychological impact on survivors, or the contemporary relevance of the genocide, there is no shortage of compelling themes to consider. Ultimately, an essay on Hotel Rwanda has the potential to prompt meaningful reflection and discussion on some of the most pressing issues facing our world today.

The Rwandan Genocide in The Film, Hotel Rwanda

The representation of rwandan genocide in the film hotel rwanda, made-to-order essay as fast as you need it.

Each essay is customized to cater to your unique preferences

+ experts online

Tutsi and Hutu Differences and Genocide in "Hotel Rwanda" by Terry George

Review of the film hotel rwanda, main themes in film hotel rwanda, 100 days of terror: rwanda genocide, let us write you an essay from scratch.

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Relevant topics

• Freedom Writers
• Film Analysis
• Hidden Figures
• Miss Representation
• Do The Right Thing
• Good Will Hunting
• Supersize Me
• Battle of Algiers

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

Hotel Rwanda Analysis

How it works

Hotel Rwanda is a film dependent on the 1994 destruction in Rwanda. Running fights between the Hutus and Tutsis prompted the slaughter of in excess of 800,000 Rwandese residents. The conflict among Hutus and Tutsis is exceptionally fuelled by pay off and defilement that deface the political scene in the country. It follows back to the Belgians who colonized Rwanda. Belgians, who took after the British arrangement of separation and rule, set up ancestral lines between the Hutu and the Tutsi.

Tutsis were a minority bunch, framing around 20% of the populace while the excess 80% were Hutus.

Belgians supported the Tutsis since they considered them as having initiative qualities. Thus, they were given a special status. This controlled hatred among the Hutu, who felt they were overwhelmed by the Tutsis after Rwanda acquired autonomy yet they were the greater part.

The Hutus got tired of the Tutsi minority rule and chose to retake power forcibly. That was the start of the common conflict among Hutus and Tutsis. Strain developed when Habyarimana, the Rwandan ruling president, was killed. Hutu radicals killed the greater part 1,000,000 Tutsis during the 1994 slaughter that killed around 1 million Rwandans. The annihilation finished after the Tutsi rebels overran the Hutus in the conflict and recovered force with unfamiliar help.

Practices of characters in Hotel Rwanda

Paul Rusesabagina, the fundamental person, is a Hutu who is hitched to Tatiana, a Tutsi. Paul’s marriage causes a great deal of contention particularly among him and Augustin Bizimungu, the Rwandan Army General who supplies his inn with well-disposed products. Bizimungu likewise drives the Interahamwe, an extremely ruthless enemy of the Tutsi state army bunch that is answerable for the slaughter of near 1,000,000 Tutsis.

Paul and his family notice their neighbors being killed as political and ethnic brutality deteriorates. Paul attempts to redirect the Hutu fighters by paying off their liquor and cash with the point of keeping up with sufficient food supplies for his family. At the point when the common conflict uplifts, Paul arranges the security of numerous individuals and carries them to the lodging. An ever-increasing number of evacuees from the Red Cross, shelters and the United Nations camp hold streaming to the inn which Paul battles to keep up with the activities to show up as a lavish lodging still. In the midst of every one of these, Paul effectively keeps up with his job as a dad.

Since the United Nations peacekeeping powers have been illegal to intercede in the possibilities of annihilation, they can’t make any confident move against Interahamwe. As the far-off nationals are cleared from the country, local Rwandans stay behind. A few times, the UN powers attempt to clear Rwandan nationals including Paul’s relatives they are trapped and requested to return by the Interhamwe. Paul’s pay-offs of liquor and cash at this point don’t work, consequently, he compromises Augustin Bizimungu, the Rwandan Army General, that he will be attempted and cleared as a conflicted criminal.

At last, the exiles in Paul’s hotel alongside his family figure out how to escape in an UN guard. They go through a long excursion, swimming through compromising masses of Hutu dissidents, civilian army and displaced people prior to intersection the wellbeing lines of Tutsi rebels.

In this film, Paul Rusesabagina is depicted as an astute man. Brought into the world to a Hutu father and a Tutsi mother, Paul is for the most part a Hutu yet wedded to a Tutsi spouse. This blend makes it difficult for him to lean toward one or the other side—something that adds to trouble in dealing with a getaway from the inn. Be that as it may, he insightfully figures out how to stow away and support numerous Tutsis by paying off the Rwandan Army General with endowments of cash and liquor to assist him with provisions of food and security. At one at once, out with his driver to get more nourishment for the lodging occupants and needs to land from the vehicle to push assemblages of dead Tutsis that were lying all around the street. Shocked by this scene, he cries in torment and asks his driver not to educate anybody regarding what he had seen. He not just realized that it would likewise control more fights and disorder yet in addition that assuming this data spilled to the Army General, he would experience landed himself to difficulty.

Paul is likewise depicted as a man who maintains family esteems in the midst of the most serious danger. He shrouds his family in an uncommon visitor suite in the lodging where he takes care of them to brief them about the advancement of the common conflict. He stows away his kids and spouse from encountering a portion of the most noticeably terrible dangerous occasions to at any point occur on the planet. He’s depicted a striking adoring dad. Throughout everyday life, however few, there are a few group who figure out how to adjust their work and their family and furthermore deal with their more distant family and companions. This is particularly normal in non-industrial nations where one has a few wards. By bringing to wellbeing and giving food to in excess of 1,000 Tutsis, Paul shows love for mankind. There are numerous individuals throughout everyday life, particularly activists and political dissidents that have showed love for their networks and nations on the loose. In the public eye there are numerous individuals who act like Paul. They are straightforward to their qualities and obligations. They keep up with dear kinships with their associates and lower level staff in the midst of their bustling timetables. They are very agreeable and they are more than prepared to pay attention to family issues even at the working environment.

Tatiana Rusesabagina, Paul’s significant other, is portrayed as meek and cherishing mother. At the point when they are nearly killed in the truck as they travel in an UN emissary, she basically repudiates her significant other for driving them into a snare. Be that as it may, she’s at last eased when they cross to security. She starts to frantically look for her two nieces who had been stranded as though they were her own kids. This is an indication of adoration and outrageous consideration for mankind. Like her significant other Paul, she additionally holds family esteems by attempting to really focus on her family however much as could reasonably be expected. Tatiana is the regular mother who is truly agreeable, kind, liberal and thoughtful. She is entirely congenial with exchange and such individuals consistently keep their statement.

Cite this page

Hotel Rwanda Analysis. (2021, Jul 13). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/hotel-rwanda-analysis/

"Hotel Rwanda Analysis." PapersOwl.com , 13 Jul 2021, https://papersowl.com/examples/hotel-rwanda-analysis/

PapersOwl.com. (2021). Hotel Rwanda Analysis . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/hotel-rwanda-analysis/ [Accessed: 4 Nov. 2024]

"Hotel Rwanda Analysis." PapersOwl.com, Jul 13, 2021. Accessed November 4, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/hotel-rwanda-analysis/

"Hotel Rwanda Analysis," PapersOwl.com , 13-Jul-2021. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/hotel-rwanda-analysis/. [Accessed: 4-Nov-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2021). Hotel Rwanda Analysis . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/hotel-rwanda-analysis/ [Accessed: 4-Nov-2024]

Don't let plagiarism ruin your grade

Hire a writer to get a unique paper crafted to your needs.

Our writers will help you fix any mistakes and get an A+!

Please check your inbox.

You can order an original essay written according to your instructions.

Trusted by over 1 million students worldwide

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Hotel Rwanda Analysis Essay

From the centuries, world has witnessed a number of bloody wars, holocausts, carnages and cruel genocide, which shattered the lives of millions of innocent people. After witnessing the mass killings and its aftermath consequences, world has not yet learned a lesson and still on the same path of destruction. Hotel Rwanda’, a movie by Terry George, tries to convey the same message to save the world harmony and to maintain social integrity and peace, else the world should ready to witness a massive destruction. This movie is based on the one of the world’s fastest and atrocious historical genocide in Rwanda in 1994. It depicts the true events around the genocide experienced by a hotel manager Paul Rusesabagina played by famous Hollywood actor Dean Cheadle.

Hotel Rwanda portrays a strong picture of triumph of human capacity for good in the midst of evils of racism, violence and ethnic cleansing; on the one side the movie depicts the fear, trauma, sexual violence and the sufferings experienced by the genocide victims and on the other side it is about the situational leadership, courage and heroism shown by a common man in extreme odd conditions; the movie shows the fine picture of cause and effects of the any genocide upon the population as well as the fundamental indifference and lack of political will of the world, racial discrimination, ideological imperatives and motives of the power retention behind any genocide. Throughout the history, genocide is one of the most devastating human tragedy.

The term ‘genocide’, which is also known as ‘ethnic cleansing’ was first coined by a Polish-Jewish lawyer Raphael Lemkin in 1994 by combining the ancient Greek word ‘genos’ which means race and the Latin word ‘cide’ which means killing (Encyclopedia of Death and Dying). According to the Oxford dictionary, genocide is defined as “The deliberate killing of a large group of people, especially those of a particular nation or ethnic group”. Hence it is an intentional murder of a particular community or a race by the government for any reason. Some of the world’s worst genocides are the Darfur Genocide, the Rwandan Genocide, the Jewish Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. All these examples conveys a big message of human rights violations and murder of humanity.

There is always a confusion between term genocide and war. Most of the people took the term genocide as a war. But both of these terms are different from each other. In their article, Olaifa and Dominic poignantly and powerfully justifies the difference between concepts of war and genocide by explaining their deep definitions with evidences and examines the genocide from many different perspectives and political topics and helped us to understand the magnitude of the killing strategy both physically and psychologically. According to them, War can be defined as a direct violent encounter between two or more opposing parties with a view to gaining access to an object of their mutual interests.

It is usually accompanied by the use of weapons such as guns, bows and arrows, machetes, sticks, biological weapons, and weapons of mass destruction; whereas genocide refers to the violent crimes committed against particular groups, with the intent to destroy the existence of such groups (Abimbola & Dominic, 31-37). The movie shed light on the reality that how the world misunderstood the Rwandan genocide as war initially. The film Hotel Rwanda depicts the true story of a perpetrated planned Rwandan genocide, in which over 800,000 innocent people were slaughtered within the three months of atrocity as Rwanda fell into political despair and turmoil.

Rwanda experienced the most extensive slaughter, a most evil moral crime, committed by the ruling Hutu government in this blood-filled century. The movie revolves around the protagonist Paul Rusesabagina, a house manager of a four star Hotel Milles Collines, who experienced this slaughter and acted as a superhero by sheltering more than 1100 Tutsis and Rwandans and saved their lives from the Hutu militia. The movie illustrates that there was an old historical conflict between two ethnic groups Hutus and Tutus, which planted the seeds of civil war which then molded into a massive genocide. There are a couple of scenes in the film, which shows the brief historical tribal background and the reasons of the genocide.

As depicted in the opening of the film, a scene shows a conversation between a foreign journalist Jack Daglish and a local Rwandan journalist Bendict. On asking the difference between Hutus and Tutsi and the reason of their conflict, Bendict replied that Belgians were responsible for this conflict. He says, “According to the Belgian colonists, the Tutsi are taller and more elegant. It was the Belgians that created the division. They picked people, those with thinner noses lighter skins [Tutus]. The Belgians used the Tutsis to run the country. Then when they left, they left the power to the Hutus, and of course Tutus are taking revenge on the elite Tutsi of the years of repression”.

In another scene, General Rutaganda reveals the brief history of the Rwanda by announcing over local radio to provoke the Hutus community to exterminate the Tutsis by announcing, “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. They are a minority of traitors and invaders……” (Hotel Rwanda). Historically, the population of Rwanda was constituted of three ethical tribes – Twas (hunters), Hutus (farmers) and the Tutsi (cattle raisers ), ruled by the Belgians. Since Twa tribes were very few, the Belgian colonizers concentrated on Hutus and Tutsis only.

They treated the Hutsi as ignorant, vile and slave by nature, while the Tutsi received much praise and superiority; Tutsi were the elite people and the Hutus worked under their command. The Hutus was used like slaves for the Belgian colonists and the Tutsi were made their supervisors and gained the control of all resources. Moreover, the Belgians created the more ethnic polarization by issuing them the racial identity cards showing if they were Hutus or Tutsi, thus exacerbating the ethnic separations between them. These distinctions created by the Belgians planted early seeds of angst of the Hutu towards the Tutsi which resulted in the loss of millions of lives over a period of 40 years since the independence of Rwanda in 1959 (Jean, 4).

The underlying message is that the physical and cultural differences became the root of the conflict. Hotel Rwanda points out the strong message of humanity among the evils and the situational leadership by the Paul Rusesabagina, by which he managed to save thousand lives through his managerial tactics by using his relations with top brasses in the regime, gifts and money. Paul character is about good vs. evil and his tireless efforts to save friends, family, and complete strangers from the genocide It was the Paul’s mental presence and virtuous actions only, which have proved that, even in the moral wasteland of genocide, humanity still exists and will prevail.

The slaughter started with the assassination of Rwandan President Juvenal Habyarimana, when his plane is shot down at Kigali Airport on 06th April 1994. The Hutu’s commanders announced the president’s death, blaming the Tutsi after the attack over the local radio station, “Our great president is murdered by the Tutsi cockroaches. They tricked him into signing their phony peace agreement, then they shot his plane from the sky. It is time to clear the great brush good Hutu’s of Rwanda. We must cut the tall trees. Cut all tall trees down! (Hotel Rwanda)”. This news lit a spark to the genocidal rage. The whole city was filled with Hutu militia ‘Interahamwe’ to take revenge from the Tutsi.

The planned genocide aimed and succeeded in exterminating not only the Tutsi community, but also Hutus who were not participating in the killing and helping the Tutsis. As the genocide starts, Paul’s neighbors and friends came to his house to save their lives, as they thought that they would be safe with him since he was a respected Hutu and had high level contacts. Firstly, he objects and tries to avoid them; finally, after assessing all conditions, he decides to bring over 1200 people to his hotel. To save them, he bribes a Rwandan military officer. He has been compared to Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist in the movie ‘Schindler’s List’, who saved almost 1100 Jewish people from the Nazis. He bribes many Hutus army officers for not only to protect his family, but other 1200 Tutsi too.

By utilizing his managerial skills of bribery, flattery, apology and deception , Paul wisely save their lives. When nobody comes forward to stop this genocide, he himself came forward and gives hope to hopeless people. He cleverly uses his emotional tactic to get help from other foreign people to get exit visas for the hotel refuges by directing them to call their relatives abroad for help. He argued, “There will be no rescue, no intervention force. We can only save ourselves. Call any foreigner you know, tell them what will happen to us. Say goodbye, but when you say goodbye, say it as though you’re reaching through and shaking their hand. Let them know if they let go of that hand, you will die. We must shame them into sending help” (Hotel Rwanda).

In the end of the movie, in order to get protection for the hotel refuges, Paul cleverly blackmailed the General Augustin Bizimungu by threatening him to be tried as war criminal and finally succeeded to cross the border with his guests safely. In reality, Paul represented as mankind’s last hope, who dared to risked his and his family’s life for thousand of other unknown people. Romeo Dallaire in his work ‘The Media Dichotomy’ extensively explored the proactive role of media in the killing of millions of people by creating a climate of fear and hostility through its active participation in the Rwandan extermination campaign. The all organs of this hate media i. e. announcers, journalists, reporters, broadcaster and media executives, etc. played a crucial part in laying the base for slaughter.

There were two radio stations and one local newspaper ‘Kangura’ in Rwanda that time. One was government owned local radio station, Radio Rwanda and other was private radio station Radio-Television Libre des Milles Collines (RTLM), which was owned by Hutu extremists. As most of the Rwandan community was illiterate, radio was like the voice of God; it was the only important means of broadcasting for the government (The Media & Rwandan Genocide, 16). Both the radio stations worked as a catalyst in the carnage and were used as a weapon by the Hutus extremists to execute the mass killings. RTLM called on all Hutus to ‘rise up as a single man’ or ‘would exterminate the Tutsi from the globe…. make them disappear once and all”.

These anti-Tutsi messages incited the Hutu community for mass participation in ethnic cleansing of the Tutsi as well as the Hutus, who were either helping them or not participating the carnage to kill Tutsi (Forges, 48). In one scene of the film, one announcer over the radio announced, “Good Hutus of Rwanda, beware! Watch your neighbor. Identify these cockroaches. Then rise up and stamp out this murderous infestation… ” (Hotel Rwanda). Hutu Leaders used violent language and the hate terms like inyengi or cockroach for the Tutsi over the radio and persuaded and incited the mob to exterminate Tutsi and moderate Hutus. They guide them on air by giving them specific directions to their hiding places like churches, hotels and mosques etc.

In another scene, the radio announces “…. we must destroy an infestation of cockroaches at the technical college…. ” And in the film, when the Tutsi were being evacuated from the Hotel Mille Collines by UN forces, the radio informed the mob about this and convinced mob to attack them (Hotel Rwanda). Under the stimulus of this broadcast, Hutu killers searched out Tutsi, moving from one house to another and killed them brutally throughout the country. Thus these scenes clearly show the power of the news media in the Rwandan genocide. Although there was presence of few foreign media journalists during the genocide, but they totally failed and ignored to show the truth to the world.

Initially, the world misunderstood the nature of the slaughter in Rwanda as the result of deeply rooted and politically fueled inter-tribal conflict, rather than genocide. But after the truth reveals, it has been found as the world’s fastest and most brutal genocide in the history. In fact, the film is sneaking the message about how the mass media has played a villainous role in genocide and ultimately telling the audience that how the media could be a curse, if misused. Every genocide or civil war is backed by some distinct motives. The major motives behind any genocide are – Power, Psychological resentment, Purification and Pecuniary gain. Rwandan Genocide of 1994 was backed by all of these motives.

The carnage had its origin for power and wealth, which once was in the hands of the Tutsis, later on seized by the Hutus after independence of Rwanda from Belgium. To retain this power, the Hutus elites planned this genocide and exercised their ‘Hutu Power’ over the Tutsis on a macro level. The director wisely linked the all main scenes of the movie in a chronological order to shows the clear picture of genocide. For instance, in one scene of the movie when the local militia leader George asked Paul to join the Hutu politics, but the Paul denied; George argues, “Politics is power and money” (Hotel Rwanda). Purification or ethnic cleansing is another major motive behind any massacre. Armenian genocide and the holocaust are the classic examples of the genocides purely effected by this motive.

This ethnic and cultural prejudice often results in the creation of ‘in-group’ and ‘out-group’ thinking, where members of a group having same race, ideology or identity treats the member of other groups as their enemies or aliens. The belief behind this is that the ‘out groups’ are pollutants and need to be cleansed for the goodness of the society. Unlike the earlier genocides held in years 1959, 1964 and 1973, in which women and children were not killed, they all were not spared in the 1994 Rwanda genocide. It is pertinent to mention that ethnic fractionalization seemed to be the main cause of the Rwandan genocide. Apart from these motives, there are other several motivational factors which are not directly responsible for any genocide, but help to accelerate the carnage e. g. ocio-cultural differences, frustration, aggression, relative deprivation, ideological imperatives, dehumanization and polarized perception indices.

In addition to all these motives, the most profound factor which fueled the transmission of genocidal ideology was the long standing and deeply ingrained ethnic differences and polarization between the Hutus and Tutsis backed by the motive of pecuniary gain by the policy makers and top elites, who commit this crime and hide behind the facelessness of regimes or governments (Dominic & Abimbola, 36-40). These arguments reinforces the film’s theme about the role of ideological imperatives and motives behind any genocide.

More Essays

• Hotel Rwanda Film Analysis Essay
• Essay about Hotel Rwanda Human Rights Violations
• Role Of Colonialism In Rwanda Essay
• Essentialism In Rwanda Essay
• Ethnic Groups In 19th Century Rwanda Essay
• Essay on Rwanda Film Analysis
• Essay about Shake Hands With The Devil Analysis
• Rwanda Human Rights Essay
• The Importance Of Disease In Rwanda Essay
• Essay about Examples Of Humanitarian Intervention

• Undergraduate
• High School
• Architecture
• American History
• Asian History
• Antique Literature
• American Literature
• Asian Literature
• Classic English Literature
• World Literature
• Creative Writing
• Linguistics
• Criminal Justice
• Legal Issues
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Political Science
• World Affairs
• African-American Studies
• East European Studies
• Latin-American Studies
• Native-American Studies
• West European Studies
• Family and Consumer Science
• Social Issues
• Women and Gender Studies
• Social Work
• Natural Sciences
• Pharmacology
• Earth science
• Agriculture
• Agricultural Studies
• Computer Science
• IT Management
• Mathematics
• Investments
• Engineering and Technology
• Engineering
• Aeronautics
• Medicine and Health
• Alternative Medicine
• Communications and Media
• Advertising
• Communication Strategies
• Public Relations
• Educational Theories
• Teacher's Career
• Chicago/Turabian
• Company Analysis
• Education Theories
• Shakespeare
• Canadian Studies
• Food Safety
• Relation of Global Warming and Extreme Weather Condition
• Movie Review
• Admission Essay
• Annotated Bibliography
• Application Essay
• Article Critique
• Article Review
• Article Writing
• Book Review
• Business Plan
• Business Proposal
• Capstone Project
• Cover Letter
• Creative Essay
• Dissertation
• Dissertation - Abstract
• Dissertation - Conclusion
• Dissertation - Discussion
• Dissertation - Hypothesis
• Dissertation - Introduction
• Dissertation - Literature
• Dissertation - Methodology
• Dissertation - Results
• GCSE Coursework
• Grant Proposal
• Marketing Plan
• Multiple Choice Quiz
• Personal Statement
• Power Point Presentation
• Power Point Presentation With Speaker Notes
• Questionnaire
• Reaction Paper
• Research Paper
• Research Proposal
• SWOT analysis
• Thesis Paper
• Online Quiz
• Literature Review
• Movie Analysis
• Statistics problem
• Math Problem
• All papers examples
• How It Works
• Money Back Policy
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• We Are Hiring

Hotel Rwanda, Essay Example

Pages: 2

Words: 657

Hire a Writer for Custom Essay

Use 10% Off Discount: "custom10" in 1 Click 👇

You are free to use it as an inspiration or a source for your own work.

Rwanda is a poor country that is located in central Africa. It is surrounded by Uganda, Burundi the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. Perhaps one of the most horrific ethnic issues in this era was the Rwanda genocide. In 1990 in the African country known as Rwanda, two tribes battled each other within the same territory. Unfortunately, the rest of the world strangely disregarded this massacre as thousands of people were brutally killed. This massacre went on for about 100 days and nearly a million people died. Although the Rwanda government asked other countries for assistance or military support, the global community did not get involved in this conflict and choose to disregard the massacre of Hutu’s and Tutsis.

Hotel Rwanda is a movie based on this tragedy and it presents the crude and horrific reality that thousands of people had to experience in Rwanda and in other surrounding African countries that are not a primary target of oil and natural resources and therefore have to go through their tragedies alone. The movie follows a basic family man whose only hope is to save his family from the civil war. His name is Paul Rusesabagina and he is the manager of the Mille Collins Hotel where the movie takes place. This conflict is between two tribes that have been living close in the same territory for thousands of years. These tribes are the Hutus and the Tutsi. Paul is in the Hutu tribe. However he is married to his wife Tatiana. Ironically, she is a Tutsi woman and therefore his children and family are Tutsis as well. This puts them in serious danger of being murdered or kidnapped by the Hutu army because they are determined to eradicate the Tutsi tribe.

Rwanda’s economy is divided and Paul has to defend his family. He, like hundreds of other Hutus and Tutsis people, has hope that the global community will intervene and stop the battle before more people are lost. He trusts the United Nations organization as well as the American and British forces. However, he starts to lose hope as soon as he realizes that the international forces are only there to save foreign citizens and diplomats, disclosing Hutus or Tutsis peoples. Paul helps nearly up to 1268 Hutu and Tutsis refugees and assists hundreds of other families to escape to countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, England, and Belgium.

In my own knowledge of modern history, many ethnic conflicts have begun as a minor problem and then exploded into a civil war that left thousands of people dead. This is the case in India, a country home to hundreds of various ethnic groups among Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, and others that live within the same territory. This level of diversity has put India in numerous ethnic conflicts.

In a specific scene in the movie entitled “cut the tall trees”, the first signs of genocides were exposed to Paul and his family. The streets were filled with chaos as dead bodies were laid out and families were being driven from their homes. Although everybody was of the same skin color and background, the diversity factors fueled corruption. This shows that diversity is not always superficial, and can be on a personal or egotistical level.

Some cultural differences cause a high level of intolerance. This can lead to a civil war where nobody carries values or ideals and where nobody is good or bad. There is simply just fighting between such groups. Somehow, Rwanda’s people lost their values and their ideals. The division of ethnicity was so deep that they were not only standing against each other but also against themselves. Coexistence among different ethnic groups is sometimes difficult to achieve. However, it is not impossible. Unity is not a concept that should depend on ethnicity, gender, religion or tribe. It is something larger that should involve every human being. We must learn to respect each other and accept everybody regardless of ethnic background.

Stuck with your Essay?

Get in touch with one of our experts for instant help!

The Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Essay Example

Woolf and Joyce, Term Paper Example

Time is precious

don’t waste it!

Plagiarism-free guarantee

Privacy guarantee

Secure checkout

Money back guarantee

Related Essay Samples & Examples

Relatives, essay example.

Pages: 1

Words: 364

Voting as a Civic Responsibility, Essay Example

Words: 287

Utilitarianism and Its Applications, Essay Example

Words: 356

The Age-Related Changes of the Older Person, Essay Example

Words: 448

The Problems ESOL Teachers Face, Essay Example

Pages: 8

Words: 2293

Should English Be the Primary Language? Essay Example

Pages: 4

Words: 999

Culture and Beliefs in “Hotel Rwanda” Essay

Introduction, ethics of safeguarding the family and the community.

Traditionally, a given society comprises of individuals who share similar interests and ideologies (Hayward, 2008). These interests were mainly guided by the language, culture and beliefs of a given community. However, with modernization, the composition of modern society has changed drastically.

Most contemporary societies comprise of individuals from different ethnic groups. While this composition is favorable for the growth and development of the society, ethnic tension is usually present. In the United States, ethnic tension between the white and the colored communities has been present for several centuries. The same trend is present in African communities where ethnic differences are present between members of different tribes.

This paper will thus focus on ethnic differences and the ethics of safeguarding the family and the community at large as a result of ethnic tension and violence. To realize its goals, this paper will use the Kantian ethical theory to critically analyze the movie, “Hotel Rwanda”, that dramatized the genocide Rwanda faced in 1994 as a result of ethnic differences between its two main ethnic groups.

The family is considered as the basic unit of the society. In most societies, it is the role of the man to provide for his family and ensure that it is safe from any threats (Pojman, 2000). Mr. Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu, was too familiar with this role especially given the political tension that was present in Rwanda after the Tutsi rebels sparked a civil war between 1990 and 1993.

While the then president of Rwanda is expected to sign a peace agreement with the Tutsi rebels, the Hutus, who are the majority, were mobilizing themselves under a militia group known as Interhamwe who slowly start to attack the Tutsi population all across Rwanda (Gourevitch, 1998). The situation gets worse after the president’s plane is shot down resulting to his death and the Interhamwe quickly blame the attack on Tutsi rebels. This sparks violence all across the nation resulting in the death of close to 1 million Tutsis (Dallaire and Power, 2004).

While several ethical theories present themselves in this movie, the Kantian ethical theory can be used to best explain the actions of the agent (Paul) and the issue the movie is trying to describe. The Kantian theory is based on categorical imperative, a concept that is used to describe the supreme principle of morality in any given societal setting (Attfield, 2013).

In accordance to this theory, there are different means through which the categorical imperative can be described. The first approach is through the universal law formulae in which individuals are expected to act and conduct themselves in a manner that can be universally applied to others without causing harm (Attfield, 2013). This is consistent with the common saying of, ‘do to others what you expect to be done to you.’ The application of this law is to maintain a moral standard across the society with regards to our actions.

The second approach of the categorical imperative is through the principle of humanity. In accordance to this principle, individuals should always treat others as ends and not as means of achieving something (Schweitzer, 2013). In this respect, we should value other individuals and treat them in a selfless manner that will result in mutual benefit and societal growth and not in a selfish manner to achieve personal gain.

From the onset of the film, it is evident that Paul is seeking favors from army generals, tourists, and diplomats who frequent the hotel where he works. The main aim of doing this is to create good relations with these individuals who have influence within the Rwandan government just in case his family or himself is in dire need for help.

From an ethical perspective, it is clear that Paul is willing to go to any extent to protect his family especially given the fact that he is married to a Tutsi woman. This fact puts his family at high risk given the political tension that is present in the nation at the time. In the scene where his Tutsi neighbor is confronted, beaten, and arrested by the Rwandan army, Paul watches from a distance and refused to take any action despite the fact that he could help him given the connections that he had.

He makes it clear to his wife that his family comes first. By analyzing Paul’s action at this juncture, it is evident that he is acting against the universal law formulae since he is not treating his neighbors in a manner that he would wish other people to treat him. However, after considering the prevailing circumstances, Paul’s decision to act in this manner is justified since he has the sole mandate of first safeguarding his family.

However, Paul’s mandate of safeguarding his family drastically changes to safeguarding the community after violence broke our due to the assassination of the president. When he reaches home, he finds that his Tutsi neighbors are seeking refuge in his home. At this point, Paul uses any means necessary including bribing an army general to ensure that all the refugees who were at his home safely arrive at the Hotel where he works.

Paul could have easily abandoned the refugees and save his family alone but his conscious and morals drove him to use any means possible to save all the refugees. This is consistent with the principle of humanity where Paul treats all the refugees as ends and not as means.

With time, Paul finds himself handling over 1000 refugees from ethnicities and races and to ensure their safety, he uses all the connections that he has to ensure their safety. In the end, he manages to safely lead these refuges behind Tutsi rebel lines. It is through his courage, selflessness and the connections that has that enables Paul to save his family and other refugees through the civil war that resulted in the death of over 1 million people.

This movie clearly portrays the challenges that Paul faced and the ethical decisions he had to make to ensure the safety of his family and the community at large. Racism and ethnicity are one of the biggest ethical problems we are currently facing in the modern society. If we can apply the concepts of the Kantian theory, we can significantly eliminate these vices and live in harmony irrespective of our ethnic background, gender or race. This will make the world a better place and will also play a significant role in social and economic development.

Attfield, R. (2013). The Ethics of Environmental Concern . Oxford: Basil Blackwell.

Dallaire, R. and Power, S. (2004). Shake Hands with the Devil: The Failure of Humanity in Rwanda. New York: Sage.

Gourevitch, P. (1998). We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will be Killed with Our Families: Stories from Rwanda. New York: Reed Business Inc.

Hayward, T. (2008). Political Theory and Ecological Values . Cambridge: Polity Press.

Pojman. L. (2000). Global Environmental Ethics . Mountain View, California: Mayfield Publishing Company.

Schweitzer, A. (2013). Civilization and Ethics . London: A & C Black Publishers.

• Negotiation Styles in "Carnage" Film
• "Hotel Rwanda" - International Ignorance
• Genocide in Rwanda: Insiders and Outsiders
• The “Hotel Rwanda” Film Analysis
• Genocide in the "Ghost of Rwanda" Documentary
• Future of Architecture in "Blade Runner" Film
• "Farewell, My Concubine" by Chen Kaige
• Odessa Steps Scene in "Battleship Potemkin" Film
• Hollywood Success in the Film "Sunset Boulevard"
• "Mad Men" First Season Trailer
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, May 6). Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda". https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-beliefs-in-hotel-rwanda/

"Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda"." IvyPanda , 6 May 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-beliefs-in-hotel-rwanda/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda"'. 6 May.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda"." May 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-beliefs-in-hotel-rwanda/.

1. IvyPanda . "Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda"." May 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-beliefs-in-hotel-rwanda/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Culture and Beliefs in "Hotel Rwanda"." May 6, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/culture-and-beliefs-in-hotel-rwanda/.

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

IvyPanda uses cookies and similar technologies to enhance your experience, enabling functionalities such as:

• Basic site functions
• Ensuring secure, safe transactions
• Secure account login
• Remembering account, browser, and regional preferences
• Remembering privacy and security settings
• Analyzing site traffic and usage
• Personalized search, content, and recommendations
• Displaying relevant, targeted ads on and off IvyPanda

Please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy for detailed information.

Certain technologies we use are essential for critical functions such as security and site integrity, account authentication, security and privacy preferences, internal site usage and maintenance data, and ensuring the site operates correctly for browsing and transactions.

Cookies and similar technologies are used to enhance your experience by:

• Remembering general and regional preferences
• Personalizing content, search, recommendations, and offers

Some functions, such as personalized recommendations, account preferences, or localization, may not work correctly without these technologies. For more details, please refer to IvyPanda's Cookies Policy .

To enable personalized advertising (such as interest-based ads), we may share your data with our marketing and advertising partners using cookies and other technologies. These partners may have their own information collected about you. Turning off the personalized advertising setting won't stop you from seeing IvyPanda ads, but it may make the ads you see less relevant or more repetitive.

Personalized advertising may be considered a "sale" or "sharing" of the information under California and other state privacy laws, and you may have the right to opt out. Turning off personalized advertising allows you to exercise your right to opt out. Learn more in IvyPanda's Cookies Policy and Privacy Policy .

• Our Organization
• Work With Us
• Annual & Financial Reports
• Research Reports
• Announcements
• Press Releases

Take Action

May 7, 2024, after hotel rwanda: new fp x hrf podcast.

The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is proud to announce the release of a new podcast, “After Hotel Rwanda,” produced by Foreign Policy magazine and sponsored by HRF. The four-part podcast series explores the abduction of Rwandan human rights activist Paul Rusesabagina and the incredible effort it took to bring him home.

LISTEN TO PART ONE

Thirty years ago, during the genocide in Rwanda, Rusesabagina saved more than 1,200 Hutus and Tutsis, offering them shelter in his hotel. His heroism drew the ire of warlord and de facto ruler Paul Kagame, and a 1996 assassination attempt forced Rusesabagina to flee the country. In 2004, his bravery was portrayed in the film “Hotel Rwanda,” and in 2005, he received the US Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In 2020, he was kidnapped by the Rwandan regime, labeled a “terrorist,” and arbitrarily imprisoned for two and a half years. While imprisoned, his daughters worked tirelessly to bring global attention to his case and pressure the US government to seek his return home. In May 2023, he was released.

“After Hotel Rwanda” tells of Rusesabagina’s heroic feats during the Rwandan genocide and the backlash he faced 26 years later. Listen to episode one of the four-part series today. New episodes will be released every Tuesday throughout May on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , and other major podcast platforms.

You can hear Rusesabagina’s story firsthand at the 2024 Oslo Freedom Forum (OFF) on June 3-5 in Oslo, Norway. Learn more at oslofreedomforum.com.

REGISTER FOR OFF

The Human Rights Foundation (HRF) is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that promotes and protects human rights globally, with a focus on closed societies.

For interview requests or media inquiries, please email [email protected] .

Related Topics

Related content, nov 1, 2024, join us in making a difference this givingtuesday, oct 31, 2024, hrf’s weekly financial freedom report #47, empower change with your donation.

Join us in helping save lives and stand up to tyranny.

You May Also Like

Oct 25, 2024, vote for hrf’s cbdc tracker in the 2024 anthem awards, oct 15, 2024, media highlights q3 booklet 2024, oct 8, 2024, register now for the human rights foundation’s online activist academy, we believe that when we rise, tyranny falls..

+1 (212) 246-8486 350 5th Ave #6500, New York, NY 10118, United States

Reach out with any questions or support needs.

Become part of our mission-driven team.

Find answers to commonly asked questions in our FAQs.

Copyright © 2024 Human Rights Foundation. All rights reserved.

Join the cause by subscribing to our newsletter..

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.