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Hotel Rwanda

Hotel Rwanda is a film about the genocide that took place in Rwanda in the year 1994. The tension between two tribes in the country brought about a war. The two tribes are Hutu and Tutsi. Corruption and bribes among politicians in the country were routine during the time. The main aim of producing this film was not only to engage the audience with regards to the story of genocide but also to inspire the audience to help in redressing the terrible devastation. As per the film, it is evident that the two tribes in the country fight among themselves, that is, the Hutu and Tutsi. The main characters in the film were a couple, and both the wife and the husband were coming from different tribes, meaning the husband, called Paul was a Hutu and the wife, a Tutsi (Sakota-Kokot 213). Hutu military forces in the country initiate a campaign with regards to ethnic cleansing against the Tutsi, which was a minority group in the country. This fight brought about serious killings throughout the country between the two ethnic groups. This essay will show how the film tries to show the cause of ethnic violence, that is, the Rwandan genocide, its negative side effect to the society (leaving about 1 million people dead), and its outcome to victims and perpetrators of the genocide. It also tried to depict reluctance with regards to international intervention to help stop the violence.

According to the film, the lesson being derived is that one tribe was looking down upon the other tribe. This is the cause of the Rwandan genocide. The Hutu that was the majority group, especially the political elites believe and argue that Tutsi, the minority population, are the cause of economic and political problems being seen in the country. Apart from that, the Tutsi civilians in the country were being blamed for a long time for supporting the Rwandan Patriotic Front, which was a Tutsi-dominated group. What ignited the genocide was the death of the then President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu. The plane carrying President Juvénal Habyarimanawas shot down, and it is believed it was perpetrated by the Tutsi. The other lesson from the film is that that the genocide led to the killing of many innocent people. According to the film, more than eight hundred thousand people were killed. There was a systematic killing of moderate Hutu and Tutsi people. Most of the individuals killed were those who were trying to flee the war zone for their safety. Many foreigners were killed in the fight. A good example is the UN peacekeepers who were trying to maintain peace. The killing of some peacekeepers was by mistake, such being caught in between the crossfire. Apart from the killings that took place, those who survived the genocide, that is, many victims of the genocide were mentally and physically affected by the fight that took place. There was anxiety, a lot of grief, and depression among others as a result of the war (Waldorf 107).

The message regarding the Rwandan genocide in the film was communicated through some ways. From the film, it was clear that those who incite tribes or races are individuals within the community. Some of the journalists in the film were seen inciting the two tribes. An example of some of the individuals who did this in the film was Kantano Habimana, Noel Hitimana, and Valerie Bemeriki. The Interahamwe militia, which is Hutu extremists together with other incited individuals made a move directed towards destroying the entire Tutsi civilian population. It is believed that about 200,000 people especially those incited by others took part in the Rwandan genocide. The main character and his wife were from different ethnic groups, where one was a Hutu and the other one Tutsi. Their marriage was under high friction because of this difference in ethnicity, and there were many times that they argued a lot. The cleansing against the Tutsi was so serious. There are times that Paul and his family witnessed neighbor being killed due to the ethnic violence. Paul also had given shelter in his hotel to many evacuees who arrived at his place from various orphanages, overburdened Red Cross, and UN refugee camp. After pulling out of the U.N., Paul had to struggle alone so as to protect many Tutsi refugees as the violence was escalating in the country. In the film, it can also be seen that there are elements of corruption. While others are suffering and trying to fight for their lives, there are those who are after satisfying their selfish gains and needs. This evident in the film where Paul curries favor with individual of influence. He does this by bribing them with alcohol and money so as to keep on maintaining enough influence in order to keep his family safe. After the eruption of the genocide, there is also a scene where Paul together with his is threatened by Rwandan Army officer, and he has to negotiate for their safety through different means (Waldorf 110). In the last effort to save the refugees that he was with, Paul tried to bride General Augustin Bizimungu, who was the Rwandan Army General, but since the bribe did not work, he blackmailed the General through the use of threats of being tried as a war criminal. The blackmail has what enabled Paul, his family, and refugees to leave the hotel where they were hiding in a UN convoy.

The message being portrayed in the film is very significant not only to the country but the whole world. It is clear that ethnic violence does not produce any positive outcome. Its end results are very devastating. It only causes a lot of pain to families due to the many killings and injuries cause to people. As in the film, it is clear that many people who killed were very innocent, such as the children and women. The war left victims in pain while perpetrators were convicted at the end of the war. Irrespective of a tribe or race, there are those who do not form sides, and they are ready to give hand even to those from other groups. This is evident in Paul. Paul was a Hutu, and after the killings had started in the country, he decided to help his neighbors who were Tutsi (Sakota-Kokot 215). He also gave refuge to refugees from overburdened camps, Red Cross, and orphanage in his hotel. This means that there are those with clear minds who are never in support of evil things in the society. The film also tries to give reasons why people should live in peace and harmony. No tribe, race, or ethnic group is superior to the other. According to the film, the Hutu felt like they were superior compared to the Tutsi because they were the majority. This superiority complex made them believe that the Tutsi were the cause of all the problems being experienced in the country. This is why the Hutu extremist together with the individuals who were incited decided to try and eliminate all the Tutsi civilian population from the country. The film also tries to show indirectly that there was a lack of international intervention during the genocide crisis. From the film, it is clear the UN Peacekeeping forces that were led by Nolte could significantly assist people during the crisis, but they were not able to take assertive action the Hutu extremists, Interahamwe militia because they were prevented to intervene in the genocide. This gives a picture that the lives of Africans at the time were as valuable as those of Americans and Europeans who were immediately taken out of the country.

In conclusion, the film was able to show clearly show how many people were killed in the film as a result of the genocide that took place in Rwanda. Many people lost their lives as a result of the fight, not only the citizens of Rwanda, but also the foreigners in the country together with the peacekeepers who went to assist. Families were destroyed due to this fight. Those who survived were later on affected by the events of the war. There were those who were mentally and physically affected. This shows that living in peace is very important to the country and its people.

Works Cited

Sakota-Kokot, Tanja. "When the past talks to the present: fiction narrative and the ‘other’in

Hotel Rwanda." Critical Arts 27.2 (2013): 211-234. Print.

Waldorf, Lars. "Revisiting Hotel Rwanda: genocide ideology, reconciliation, and

rescuers." Journal of Genocide Research 11.1 (2009): 101-125. Print.