SUMMARY:
Hotel Rwanda is an American historical drama film released in 2004 and was directed by Terry George . The film is about the Rwanda genocide of 1994 and the negative effect it has on the citizens of a country poorly governed by the Hutu and Tutsi. In this film, the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, who is a hotel manager, is shown and the ways he provides refuge for the Hutu and Tutsi refugees. The cast of this movie includes Don Cheadle playing Paul Rusesabagina, Sophie Okonedo playing Paul's wife, and many other characters. Hotel Rwanda explores the ideas of political corruption and the violence that took place ultimately violating basic human rights during the genocide. In this film, Paul's devotion to save his family and others is shown as he has to bribe the army commanders to have officers protect the hotel where he has kept the refugees. Paul is a Hutu and his wife (Sophia Okonedo) is a Tutsi causing a friction between their marriage and representing the strength of their relationship in a time of chaos. I enjoyed watching this movie and exploring the fundamental human rights violated due to the government of Rwanda not protecting their citizens.
Hotel Rwanda is an American historical drama film released in 2004 and was directed by Terry George . The film is about the Rwanda genocide of 1994 and the negative effect it has on the citizens of a country poorly governed by the Hutu and Tutsi. In this film, the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, who is a hotel manager, is shown and the ways he provides refuge for the Hutu and Tutsi refugees. The cast of this movie includes Don Cheadle playing Paul Rusesabagina, Sophie Okonedo playing Paul's wife, and many other characters. Hotel Rwanda explores the ideas of political corruption and the violence that took place ultimately violating basic human rights during the genocide. In this film, Paul's devotion to save his family and others is shown as he has to bribe the army commanders to have officers protect the hotel where he has kept the refugees. Paul is a Hutu and his wife (Sophia Okonedo) is a Tutsi causing a friction between their marriage and representing the strength of their relationship in a time of chaos. I enjoyed watching this movie and exploring the fundamental human rights violated due to the government of Rwanda not protecting their citizens.
ABUSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS:
Violation of Articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
- In Hotel Rwanda, the Hutu and Tutsi are two prominent groups that are at war with one another. They mistreat each other by murdering its leaders and citizens. For example, the President of Rwanda, being a Hutu was murdered by the Tutsi rebels showing how the two groups do not act towards each other in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.
- The Hutu and Tutsi civilians do not feel secure throughout the film since they want refuge in a hotel protected by the United Nations. Civilians are constantly murdered and tortured by the Tutsi rebels and are forced to evacuate their homes if they do not share similar beliefs.
Article 5: No shall be subjected to to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
- When civilians are murdered by machetes, their dead bodies are laid on the streets in Rwanda. This violates their human right to not be tortured since they killed with no mercy and are punished for their beliefs.
Article 9: No shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
- When the Hutu or Tutsi show different beliefs apart from those of the Tutsi rebels, they are either killed or forced to leave Rwanda. This violates their right to not be forcefully exiled since the civilians do not have option or protection from the Tutsi rebels and have to leave their home country.
Article 25 (1): Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care.
- When the genocide is at its peak, the Rwandan civilians gather together to seek refuge at the hotel managed by Paul. Around 800 civilians are living in the hotel causing their to be a shortage of food supplies. This causes Paul to travel out of way to a supplier and buy food and water. Also, Paul purchases alcohol used to bribe Italian and French soldiers to protect the hotel from the Tutsi rebels. Women and children share rooms and food with each other. As a result, the shortage of food and water violates the right to an adequate standard of living.
Violation of Articles from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
- In Hotel Rwanda, the Hutu and Tutsi are two prominent groups that are at war with one another. They mistreat each other by murdering its leaders and citizens. For example, the President of Rwanda, being a Hutu was murdered by the Tutsi rebels showing how the two groups do not act towards each other in a spirit of brotherhood.
Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security of person.
- The Hutu and Tutsi civilians do not feel secure throughout the film since they want refuge in a hotel protected by the United Nations. Civilians are constantly murdered and tortured by the Tutsi rebels and are forced to evacuate their homes if they do not share similar beliefs.
Article 5: No shall be subjected to to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
- When civilians are murdered by machetes, their dead bodies are laid on the streets in Rwanda. This violates their human right to not be tortured since they killed with no mercy and are punished for their beliefs.
Article 9: No shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile.
- When the Hutu or Tutsi show different beliefs apart from those of the Tutsi rebels, they are either killed or forced to leave Rwanda. This violates their right to not be forcefully exiled since the civilians do not have option or protection from the Tutsi rebels and have to leave their home country.
Article 25 (1): Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care.
- When the genocide is at its peak, the Rwandan civilians gather together to seek refuge at the hotel managed by Paul. Around 800 civilians are living in the hotel causing their to be a shortage of food supplies. This causes Paul to travel out of way to a supplier and buy food and water. Also, Paul purchases alcohol used to bribe Italian and French soldiers to protect the hotel from the Tutsi rebels. Women and children share rooms and food with each other. As a result, the shortage of food and water violates the right to an adequate standard of living.
EFFECT OF THE ABUSE ON THE CHARACTERS AND THE SOCIETY IN THE FILM:
As the country's political situation worsen's, Paul begins to witness his neighbours being forcefully evacuated from their homes by the Tutsi rebels. Houses are burned down and the children of Rwanda are killed. These civilians have done no harm but are murdered for reasons such as being either a Hutu or a Tutsi. An uproar began when the President of Rwanda is murdered by the Tutsi rebels. There is no order in Rwanda causing many human rights to be violated. While driving after gathering supplies to bring back to the hotel, Paul comes across a bumpy road. When Paul checks to see the bumpy road he steps on the bodies of dead men, women, and children. This horrific event shocks Paul and the viewers of this film since the seriousness of this genocide is triggered. After stepping on the dead bodies, the next day Paul is in the changing room and breaks down by crying and holding his head. This shows how witnessing the abuses of the genocide has effected his mental state. The citizens of Rwanda have no rights since they are killed with no mercy and laid on the roads to be driven over. The Tutsi rebels use machetes to kill those on the streets of Rwanda causing more violation of human rights. Overall, throughout the film as more characters witness the different abuses others face, they begin to experience mental trauma by shaking in fear and holding loved ones in their arms.
As the country's political situation worsen's, Paul begins to witness his neighbours being forcefully evacuated from their homes by the Tutsi rebels. Houses are burned down and the children of Rwanda are killed. These civilians have done no harm but are murdered for reasons such as being either a Hutu or a Tutsi. An uproar began when the President of Rwanda is murdered by the Tutsi rebels. There is no order in Rwanda causing many human rights to be violated. While driving after gathering supplies to bring back to the hotel, Paul comes across a bumpy road. When Paul checks to see the bumpy road he steps on the bodies of dead men, women, and children. This horrific event shocks Paul and the viewers of this film since the seriousness of this genocide is triggered. After stepping on the dead bodies, the next day Paul is in the changing room and breaks down by crying and holding his head. This shows how witnessing the abuses of the genocide has effected his mental state. The citizens of Rwanda have no rights since they are killed with no mercy and laid on the roads to be driven over. The Tutsi rebels use machetes to kill those on the streets of Rwanda causing more violation of human rights. Overall, throughout the film as more characters witness the different abuses others face, they begin to experience mental trauma by shaking in fear and holding loved ones in their arms.
DIRECTOR'S USE OF CINEMATOGRAPHY TO CREATE CATHARSIS ON THE AUDIENCE:
Throughout the film, the reaction and expression of the actors creates emotions on the audience leading to the realization of the effects of the genocide. Terry George uses emotional music in the background especially when Paul and his wife are hugging each other crying and wondering how long they will live. This rushes a remorseful feeling through the audience adding to the experience of watching the film. Dramatic music is also played when Paul is driving over the dead bodies setting a moment of grief that the audience feels and providing more insight on the genocide. The weather in the movie also sets catharsis on the audience. When the United Nations said they wouldn't provide help, it began to rain representing the sadness that Paul and the other refugees were feeling and providing remorse from the audience for the characters in the movie. Below is a video clip from the movie when Paul's car is driving over the dead bodies and the director effectively uses dramatic music in the background to add to the emotions that the audience is experiencing.
Throughout the film, the reaction and expression of the actors creates emotions on the audience leading to the realization of the effects of the genocide. Terry George uses emotional music in the background especially when Paul and his wife are hugging each other crying and wondering how long they will live. This rushes a remorseful feeling through the audience adding to the experience of watching the film. Dramatic music is also played when Paul is driving over the dead bodies setting a moment of grief that the audience feels and providing more insight on the genocide. The weather in the movie also sets catharsis on the audience. When the United Nations said they wouldn't provide help, it began to rain representing the sadness that Paul and the other refugees were feeling and providing remorse from the audience for the characters in the movie. Below is a video clip from the movie when Paul's car is driving over the dead bodies and the director effectively uses dramatic music in the background to add to the emotions that the audience is experiencing.