The film Hotel Rwanda is based on true events. It portrays the plight and suffering of Rwandans – mainly the Tutsi peoples and "moderate" Hutus – during the Rwandan genocide accurately. However, the film is under controversy because of suspicion surrounding the portrayal Paul Rusesabagina and United Nations peacekeeper Romeo Dallaire's actions in the movie. Although some parts of the plot may be inaccurate as they allegedly over exaggerate certain aspects of the genocide, it is still an effective teaching tool.
Hotel Rwanda’s plot revolves around how Rusesabagina housed thousands of Tutsi refugees from genocide at the hands of Hutu extremists in the hotel he managed during the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. Since all the foreign tourists were …show more content…
They had claimed that he had been charging them money for free food that was sent to them by humanitarian groups . In one scene of Hotel Rwanda where Army Officer Georges Rutaganda goes to check on the hotel confirm that it is not a makeshift refugee camp. Rusesabagina handed out bills to the refugees in front of Rutaganda, but told them discreetly that they did not actually have to pay. It was an illusion – if he handed out bills to the patrons and acted like the hotel was still functioning as a hotel, the Hutu militia would have a better chance of believing it. In reality, Rusesabagina most likely cheated his guests of their money for rent and food. This is evidenced by the cheques he accepted for room rent – he had cashed them in at a bank in Gitarama. Another glaring inaccuracy is Rusesabagina did not bribe the Hutu militias to prevent them from killing his family and others in the hotel. Rather, he was friends with them. In Hotel Rwanda, he often bribed the Hutu militia with alcohol, expensive cigars, and money in order to divert them. However in reality, he would invite the militia men to the hotel and openly drink alcohol with them in “full view of the refugees who were drinking poisonous swimming pool water out of garbage pails” . He would get “drunk” with the Hutu militia men, not caring …show more content…
It is too full of inaccuracies and a romantic view of the incident at Hotel des Mille Collines and the Rwandan Genocide to be considered as a historical document. Conversely, it could be used to teach World History students about the horrors of war and the suffering and resilience of the victims. The momentary panic attack of Rusesabagina from the extreme stress and exhaustion from defending the hotel from the Hutu militia is one such example of those themes. Another would be when Tatiana believes she has lost her young niece and nephew to the genocide, then realizes they were still alive – but in a refugee camp for children. The movie is far less violent than the real genocide, but that is to be expected. It is very difficult for even the most experienced writers, actors, and directors to recreate such violence and brutality for a film. Hotel Rwanda must be used as a teaching tool cautiously – it has a “rosy coloured” bias of the incident in Hotel Rwanda. Whenever this film is shown in a classroom, the teacher should explain how the survivors saw Rusesabagina -- a dual-natured drunk – and Romeo Dallaire’s true actions during the Rwandan
Hotel Rwanda’s plot revolves around how Rusesabagina housed thousands of Tutsi refugees from genocide at the hands of Hutu extremists in the hotel he managed during the Rwandan Genocide of 1994. Since all the foreign tourists were …show more content…
They had claimed that he had been charging them money for free food that was sent to them by humanitarian groups . In one scene of Hotel Rwanda where Army Officer Georges Rutaganda goes to check on the hotel confirm that it is not a makeshift refugee camp. Rusesabagina handed out bills to the refugees in front of Rutaganda, but told them discreetly that they did not actually have to pay. It was an illusion – if he handed out bills to the patrons and acted like the hotel was still functioning as a hotel, the Hutu militia would have a better chance of believing it. In reality, Rusesabagina most likely cheated his guests of their money for rent and food. This is evidenced by the cheques he accepted for room rent – he had cashed them in at a bank in Gitarama. Another glaring inaccuracy is Rusesabagina did not bribe the Hutu militias to prevent them from killing his family and others in the hotel. Rather, he was friends with them. In Hotel Rwanda, he often bribed the Hutu militia with alcohol, expensive cigars, and money in order to divert them. However in reality, he would invite the militia men to the hotel and openly drink alcohol with them in “full view of the refugees who were drinking poisonous swimming pool water out of garbage pails” . He would get “drunk” with the Hutu militia men, not caring …show more content…
It is too full of inaccuracies and a romantic view of the incident at Hotel des Mille Collines and the Rwandan Genocide to be considered as a historical document. Conversely, it could be used to teach World History students about the horrors of war and the suffering and resilience of the victims. The momentary panic attack of Rusesabagina from the extreme stress and exhaustion from defending the hotel from the Hutu militia is one such example of those themes. Another would be when Tatiana believes she has lost her young niece and nephew to the genocide, then realizes they were still alive – but in a refugee camp for children. The movie is far less violent than the real genocide, but that is to be expected. It is very difficult for even the most experienced writers, actors, and directors to recreate such violence and brutality for a film. Hotel Rwanda must be used as a teaching tool cautiously – it has a “rosy coloured” bias of the incident in Hotel Rwanda. Whenever this film is shown in a classroom, the teacher should explain how the survivors saw Rusesabagina -- a dual-natured drunk – and Romeo Dallaire’s true actions during the Rwandan