A heartbreaking movie : Hotel Rwanda

A few days ago I decided to watch a movie I heard about a while ago. Something I knew that would touch me deeply. So it took me a long time before deciding that it was time for me to see it. I put the dvd in my computer and was taken away from reality for more than one hour. While watching that film, as a belgian, I didn't feel confortable at all as I believe that, the United Nations troups and among them Belgians could have done more to save Tutsi. But as always, it's all a matter of politics...

At the beginning of April 1994, Rwanda entered the most tragic episode in its history. In the hundred days that followed the attack against President Habyarimana (and his dead), the Rwandan government and Hutu extremists killed three-quarters of the Tutsi population of Rwanda. Using firearms, machetes, Hutu militias, soldiers and ordinary citizens were killed probably close to 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

 

Here is the summary of this heartbreaking movie.

 

From the beginning of the Rwandan genocide, early April 1994, the Tutsi in Kigali, men, women and children, pursued by hordes of Hutu murderers, have been desperately looking for shelter and hiding places.

More than a thousand of them rushed to one of the largest hotels of the capital, the « Hotel des Mille Collines », owned by Sabena (our belgian national airline), which was secured by the forces of UNAMIR (UN Mission United in Rwanda).

What did those unfortunate people found in this place? Safety, food, care and they were saved by the heroism of the hotel manager, as in it shown in this film "Hotel Rwanda", based on a true story that has deeply moved the public.

 

 

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Comments

  • Hello Gerardo,  yes I believe such movies are necessary to keep reminding us about people stupidity. Genocides already happened earlier but it seems we haven't learn anything from them. 
    Sad story !!! 

  • Hello Martin, how have you been ? Yes, i can understand you had goosebumps... it was the same for me. Thanks for reading this blog.

  • Hello Manuela, it´s so sad that this kind of events happens in this time... I haven´t seen the movie, but I guess it must be interesting because we need to remember this tragedies so we don´t repeat them.

     

  • Hello Selma,

    You're absolutely right, that "Schindler's list" is an amazing story and movie, it has been extremely popular all around Europe and if I remember well, that film won quite a few awards as the Golden globe or the Oscars for the best movie. A few years ago, I even did a work about that film for my english class. For those who haven't seen it, it's a must see !!! Thanks Selma for commenting this post.

  • Hello Jasmine, 

    Thanks for telling me about "The Brotherhood of War". I have doubts I can rent it here in Turkey but I will try to find it as soon as I will be in Belgium. I've just checked on youtube (that i could finally open today) and found it. Watching the first minutes already gave me chills... You can be sure i will do all to watch all that movie. Thanks again.

  • Hello Clara,

    Nice to see a Swiss woman out here :)) Thanks for your interest to this post. As you wrote, that hotel manager was a hero ! I am wondering where he is now, I suppose that, as a Sabena employee,  he could have finally moved to Belgium with his family. 




  • and the other video;

    http://youtu.be/W74jGQ-CDTE
  •  

    Good Morning Manuela,

    It seems really good story, I did not watch it, but I would love to.

    Thanks for sharing, I'd watched one movie some years ago which impressed me deeply like yours,

    Schindler's List that was telling about Nazi and jewish's story in the second war, remembered a scan there was someone giving his wedding ring to show appreciation to man who'd saved them from Nazi's.

    Have a good time,

     

     

  • Hello Jasmine, I guess it's the same movie. What a memory you have !!! Thanks for your opinion.
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