Great Performances Bring True Story to Life

Rating: 8/10 (14 February 2005)

When the world (specifically the UN) turned its back on the genocidal tribal warfare in Rwanda in the early 1990's, a true story emerged of a hotel manager who risked his life and his family to help refugees survive the massacre and escape to safety. The straightforward and by-the-numbers direction of Terry George service this tale very well, as it allows the fact based and ultimately uplifting story to speak for itself and allows the actors (most notably Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo-both rightfully honored with Oscar nods) to shine. There's a lot of heartbreaking stuff here both of a personal and political nature. It's a sobering and timely tale that highlights the grotesque flaws of current geopolitics while reminding us that even in the most dire of situations the human will to survive and help others survive will emerge triumphant.