Powerful and Emotional

Rating: 10/10 (12 April 2005)

Rwanda. A small country in the heart of Africa. Normal government, normal people, normal country. Until the day everything changed. the year is 1994 and Rwanda has fallen into civil war between the Tutsi and Hutu parties of the country. Caught in the middle is a hotel manager named Paul Rosesabagina (Don Cheadle) and his family.
At first Paul tries to help only his family but soon finds himself housing over a thousand Tutsi and Hutu refugees in his luxurious hotel. With the help of camera operator Jack Daglish (Joaquin Phoenix) and U.N. officer Colonel Oliver (Nick Nolte)he is able to save the people from the rebel army waiting at the gates. But soon Paul along with the refugees must fend for themselves as the foreign troops are evacuated from the capital.
The movie is a powerhouse of emotions with accounts of people telling what they witnessed in the town. As the world turned its back, Paul Rosesabagina was able to save 1295 refugees through bribery, blackmail, and favors. Based on the true-life story of the man, the film gives you a sense of civil war and what is currently happening in the Sudan to millions.
At some points you truly feel like breaking down and crying as you watch people being hit with machetes in the street and children lying dead on the road side.
In my opinion, this is the best film of 2004 and Don Cheadle deserved Best Actor over Jamie Foxx (Ray, 2004) but that's my opinion.
Hotel Rwanda. Starring: Don Cheadle, Nick Nolte, Joaquin Phoenix, Cara Seymour,and Sophie Okonedo.
5 out of 5 Stars.