CHECK INTO THIS HOTEL

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HOTEL RWANDA
directed by: Terry George
released: 2004
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I find my time generally too precious to waste on Hollywood's soul-tainting product and therefore I visit the movie theater less than once every five years. But I had heard so many positive things about HOTEL RWANDA and was determined to see it. Still it took me until just a couple of days ago to finally get around to renting it.
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I remember the massacre of the Tutsis by the Hutus in Africa in 1994 primarily because, while it was occurring, I was in the midst of experiencing a paradigm shift: On April 6th (the very day that the violence in Africa was initiated) I had an extraordinary and entirely unexpected encounter with Jesus Christ, and as a result, my world-view was being transformed daily during that historically important period.
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I recall standing at the counter of a 7-11 in a grungy section of Los Angeles, my mind filled with thoughts of God's Love for us, when I saw the photograph on the cover of Time magazine in the rack before me illustrating vividly what was transpiring in Africa. I think the dichotomy of feeling the inestimable power of Divine Love for mankind, while simultaneously looking upon the grotesque hatred that mankind has for itself, indelibly burned that otherwise insignificant transaction into my brain.
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While many have pointed to the immoral colonialism of Rwanda by Germany / Belgium as the catalyst behind the deplorable tragedy that took place in Africa, the tension between the Hutus and the Tutsis goes back much further than imperialistic influence, and it's important not to lose sight of the fact that ultimately every man and woman is responsible for what resides in his or her heart. No one can FORCE blind, irrational hatred into the heart of another person; it is the individual alone who must accept the blame for surrendering to deformed thoughts and allowing them to inspire evil acts. I'm reminded of the vow of Booker T. Washington which should stand as a guiding principle for each and every one of us. He said:
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"[I] WOULD PERMIT NO MAN, NO MATTER WHAT HIS COLOR MIGHT BE, TO NARROW AND DEGRADE MY SOUL BY MAKING ME HATE HIM."
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It is a genuine shame that no action was taken by any power to intervene and bring this genocide to an immediate halt. And though I often object to the liberal playing of the "race card", I'm afraid that in this instance I'll not dare contest the charge that the general apathy toward the violence was probably engendered by the fact that it was a matter between two groups of Black Africans. It should surprise no one, however, that the United Nations refused to take an active role in quelling the muderous spree, as anyone familiar with the history of that organization knows, the promotion of global collectivism is its true agenda, and tribal massacres not easily exploited for their cause fall outside the interests of the dogs of Socialism.
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As for the film itself, it is well-directed and contains an excellent performance from Don Cheadle as the lifesaving Paul Rusesabagina; and an even more impressive performance by Sophie Okonedo who plays Rusesabagina's wife, Tatiana, a woman of grace, inner strength and beauty. HOTEL RWANDA convincingly conveys the intensity of the environment without the de rigueur graphic violence of Hollywood movies.
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I've deducted half a star because there were a couple too many last-second rescues that strained believability for me (and I stand corrected if ALL of these situations truly conformed to historical fact, but I find that doubtful). And I charged another half a star against the horrifically miscast Nick Nolte in the role of U.N. Colonel Oliver. Nolte couldn't act his way out of a paper bag. He tried it once in 1996: The Screen Actors Guild placed him into a paper bag specially constructed for the experiment. When he was unable to act his way out of it, Nolte was rescued just as his supply of oxygen was exhausted and he slipped into unconsciousness (though some say it was difficult to discern the difference). Nolte was embarrassingly unconvincing as a colonel, as he possesses none of the mien of a lifelong military man -- he wasn't even acceptable as a commander wearing the ridiculously unintimidating U.N. powder blue beret.
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Nevertheless, I highly recommend HOTEL RWANDA to everyone. The United Nations may be useless when it comes to preventing human tragedies, but Paul Rusesabagina (and Jesus) saves!
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~ Stephen T. McCarthy
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