'Rwanda' shows honor, horror of humanity

In 1994 genocide ran rampant across Rwanda. It came about in wake of Belgian colonists leaving the country after having elevated the minority Tutsis to an elite, ruling class status, relegating Hutus to the background. Soon thereafter, a propagandistic radio station, RTML, encouraged the eradication of the "lighter skinned, taller and more elegant" Tutsis, turning what might've been skirmishes fueled by revenge and/or resentment between neighbors into mass murder. The assassination of the Hutu president at the hands of Tutsis only served to throw fuel upon the fire, with RTML referring not only to the assailants but Tutsis as a whole as "cockroaches" in need of extermination. After 100 days of genocide nearly 1 million Tutsis had been killed -- this is the story of "Hotel Rwanda."\nDon Cheadle headlines the film as real-life hero Paul Rusesabagina, a sharp hotel manager of Hutu descent who's married to and has children with Tatiana (Sophie Okonedo) -- a Tutsi. Paul begins the movie as a man concerned with "style" -- Cuban cigars, fine Scotches, imported beer, etc. -- for he knows providing these items to his upscale guests (generals both foreign and domestic) will afford him favors in times of crisis. Paul's family is of the utmost importance to him, and these favors should cement their safety. When attacks first breakout, i.e. Paul's Tutsi neighbor is beaten and abducted within his eyesight, he cares only for the well-being of his wife and children -- everyone else is secondary as they're not family. This mindset changes as genocide escalates with Paul using the hotel to house not only his neighbors but random Tutsis and orphans as well. Eventually 1,268 people are given refuge within the hotel's confines, placing Paul within harm's way.\n"Rwanda" isn't the best-made film that came out last year, but it's certainly one of the most powerful. Co-writer/director Terry George has only two films under his belt: one theatrical ("Some Mother's Son"), the other made-for-television (HBO's "A Bright Shining Lie"), as such he may seem an odd choice to tackle a story of such grandiosity. Upon further inspection he's the perfect pick, as the native Irelander penned powerful IRA films "In the Name of the Father" and "The Boxer" -- both of which were politically motivated and showed the honor and horror of humanity in equal doses. These themes are integral to "Rwanda," and are aptly captured in vivid performances by Cheadle and Okonedo, as well as Nick Nolte and Cara Seymour as a U.N. colonel and relief worker, respectively.\n"Hotel Rwanda" has two agendas; the first is to celebrate the heroic humanitarianism of Rusesabagina, while the second shames Westerners. It's successful on both fronts, as the Rwandans needed our help and most turned a blind eye. This ideal is most aptly captured in a quote from Nolte's character, Col. Oliver, to Rusesabagina expressing the views of all too many, "You're not even a nigger -- you're African." Sadly, thoughts such as this exist. Luckily, so do people like Rusesabagina.