Hotel Rwanda (2004)

Intro: 18 years ago some of the worst atrocities in the history of mankind took place in the country of Rwanda--and in an era of high-speed communication and round the clock news, the events went almost unnoticed by the rest of the world. In only three months, one million people were brutally murdered. In the face of these unspeakable actions, inspired by his love for his family, an ordinary man summons extraordinary courage to save the lives of over a thousand helpless refugees, by granting them shelter in the hotel he manages.  Hotel Rwanda is this true story.  Starring Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Joaquin Pheonix, and Nick Nolte, Hotel Rwanda was nominated for 3 Academy Awards.  Originally budgeted for $17.5 million, the movie grossed $33.8 million.

Central Theme: Moral Leadership

Scene 3 – Soldiers in the Street

In this scene, Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu, and his wife Tatiana, a Tutsi, witness their Tutsi neighbors violently pulled from their home by Rwandan military members.  Watching silently as their friendly neighbors are beaten and taken away, Tatiana begs Paul to do something to stop them, but Paul refuses.  Later in bed, Tatiana continues to beg Paul to use his network of important contacts to call in a favor for his neighbors.  Paul again refuses and states that he cannot waste the favors he has stored up with these important people on his neighbors, and must save his capital in case his family ever needed it.  In a statement of irony and foreshadowing, the scene ends with Paul exclaiming, “Trust my good judgment”.

Give justice to the weak and the fatherless;

maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.

Rescue the weak and the needy;

deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”

(Psalm 82:3-4 ESV)

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

(Matthew 5:46-48 ESV)

Scene 15 – Halfway There Already

Desperately needing supplies to care for the 1000+ refugees as well as to maintain the image of a functioning luxury hotel, Paul journeys out into the city to meet Georges Rutaganga, a Hutu warlord and vice-president/general of the viscous Hutu militia, the Interahamwe.  Upon arriving, Paul sees the violent and humiliating treatment of Tutsi women crowded naked in a cage, awaiting rape, torture, and death.  Rutaganda then extolls his dream to wipe out the Tutsis completely, and tries to persuade Paul to turn over the Tutsi “coackroaches” living in his hotel.  Rutaganda then offers Paul a deal; if the Interahamwe were allowed in to “slaughter the fat cow” of the Tutsis, then he would allow Paul to keep a few Tutsis for himself.  Paul drives away with the option of saving his family by sacrificing the rest lingering in his head.

“I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him!

(Luke 12:4-5 ESV)

Scene 18 – Exit Visas for Some

After being encouraged to call any high-ranking person they knew in foreign countries to try to shame them into getting exit visas, a very limited amount come through and are delivered by the UN.  Among those receiving a visa was Paul and his family.  As the UN was loading the convoy to take these newfound political refugees to Kigali airport, Paul loads his family on board, whispers to his friend to take care of his family, and then surprisingly hops off the truck and closes the door, watching in agony as his frantic and scared wife and children scream for him from the truck.  This sacrificial action points to the sacrifice of Christ, who was willing to sacrifice himself, so that many more should live.  This scene marks a substantial turning point for Paul, as he realizes his role in the shepherding of all the refugees, and not only his family.  In a symbolic response to the offer posed by the ruthless Rutagunda, Paul did not view his family as having more worth than the remainder of the refugees

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

(John 15:12-13 ESV)