Gripping film - brought the past-conflict into light with much emotion!

Rating: 9/10 (21 August 2005)

To say I was sceptical and ignorant about this film before I watched it is a true understatement. I chose the film at my local store because of a lack of alternatives, and knew very little about the Rwandan Genocides that it is based around. In fact, between myself and the three University Students that watched the film with me our combined knowledge on anything relating to the Genocides was minimal to say the least. The film certainly changed our perspectives.
Well shot and emotional, the film based on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, the manager of a Western-owned hotel in the middle of the conflict captured the terror faced by the genocide victims extremely well. Top class acting from Don Cheadle and Sophie Okenado further added to the powerful story lines impact on the viewers senses. Oscar nominated acting should have been Oscar winning acting. At the end of the film the consensus shared by my fellow viewers was displayed by a long silence followed by "wow's" and stunned looks.
A modern masterpiece of directing by Terry George, what a film!!!