The document provides a summary of the film Hotel Rwanda. It discusses that the film is about the genocide that occurred in Rwanda in 1994 between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. Tensions between the tribes escalated and led to widespread killings. The film aims to educate audiences about the genocide and inspire help for those devastated. It depicts the ethnic violence and killings, as well as the lasting impacts on survivors. In conclusion, the film shows how ethnic violence destroyed families and communities in Rwanda.

1. Ali 1
Mohammad Ali
Sara Barrios
English 101: Mo, We – 11:30
18 November 2015
Hotel Rwanda: Ethnic violence
Hotel Rwanda is a film about the genocide that took place in
Rwanda in the year 1994. The tension between two tribes in the
country brought about a war. The two tribes are Hutu and Tutsi.
Corruption and bribes among politicians in the country were
routine during the time. The main aim of producing this film
was not only to engage the audience with regards to the story of
genocide but also to inspire the audience to help in redressing
the terrible devastation. As per the film, it is evident that the
two tribes in the country fight among themselves, that is, the
Hutu and Tutsi. The main characters in the film were a couple,
and both the wife and the husband were coming from different
tribes, meaning the husband, called Paul was a Hutu and the
wife, a Tutsi (Sakota-Kokot 213). Hutu military forces in the
country initiate a campaign with regards to ethnic cleansing
against the Tutsi, which was a minority group in the country.
This fight brought about serious killings throughout the country
between the two ethnic groups. The film shows ethnic violence
and that type of violence has devastating outcome to the
society. This is being communicated through the killings,
bribery, and corruption in the film.
According to the film, the lesson being derived is that ethnic
violence has negative effect to the community. Its outcome
affects people negatively, and its cause is rooted in within the
society. The Rwandan genocide was as a result of one tribe was
looking down upon the other tribe. This is the cause of the
Rwandan genocide. The Hutu that was the majority group,
especially the political elites believe and argue that Tutsi, the

2. minority population, are the cause of economic and political
problems being seen in the country. Apart from that, the Tutsi
civilians in the country were being blamed for a long time for
supporting the Rwandan Patriotic Front, which was a Tutsi-
dominated group. What ignited the genocide was the death of
the then President Juvénal Habyarimana, a Hutu. The plane
carrying President Juvénal Habyarimanawas shot down, and it is
believed it was perpetrated by the Tutsi. The other lesson from
the film is that that the genocide led to the killing of many
innocent people. According to the film, more than eight hundred
thousand people were killed. There was a systematic killing of
moderate Hutu, but a large number of people killed in the fight
were Tutsi people. The population of the Tutsi was almost
wiped out due to the genocide. At the time of the war, there
were about 980,000 Tutsi in the country, but after the war, the
population was greatly reduced. Most of the individuals killed
were those who were trying to flee the war zone for their safety.
Many foreigners were killed in the fight. A good example is the
UN peacekeepers who were trying to maintain peace. The
killing of some peacekeepers was by mistake, such being caught
in between the crossfire. Apart from the killings that took place,
those who survived the genocide, that is, many victims of the
genocide were mentally and physically affected by the fight that
took place. There was anxiety, a lot of grief, and depression
among others as a result of the war (Waldorf 107).
The message regarding the Rwandan genocide in the film was
communicated through some ways. From the film, it was clear
that those who incite tribes or races are individuals within the
community. Some of the journalists in the film were seen
inciting the two tribes. An example of some of the individuals
who did this in the film was Kantano Habimana, Noel Hitimana,
and Valerie Bemeriki. The Interahamwe militia, which is Hutu
extremists together with other incited individuals made a move
directed towards destroying the entire Tutsi civilian population.
It is believed that about 200,000 people especially those incited

3. by others took part in the Rwandan genocide. The main
character and his wife were from different ethnic groups, where
one was a Hutu and the other one Tutsi. Their marriage was
under high friction because of this difference in ethnicity, and
there were many times that they argued a lot. The cleansing
against the Tutsi was so serious. There are times that Paul and
his family witnessed neighbor being killed due to the ethnic
violence. Paul also had given shelter in his hotel to many
evacuees who arrived at his place from various orphanages,
overburdened Red Cross, and UN refugee camp. After pulling
out of the U.N., Paul had to struggle alone so as to protect many
Tutsi refugees as the violence was escalating in the country. In
the film, it can also be seen that there are elements of
corruption. While others are suffering and trying to fight for
their lives, there are those who are after satisfying their selfish
gains and needs. This evident in the film where Paul curries
favor with individual of influence. He does this by bribing them
with alcohol and money so as to keep on maintaining enough
influence in order to keep his family safe. After the eruption of
the genocide, there is also a scene where Paul together with his
is threatened by Rwandan Army officer, and he has to negotiate
for their safety through different means (Waldorf 110). In the
last effort to save the refugees that he was with, Paul tried to
bride General Augustin Bizimungu, who was the Rwandan Army
General, but since the bribe did not work, he blackmailed the
General through the use of threats of being tried as a war
criminal. The blackmail has what enabled Paul, his family, and
refugees to leave the hotel where they were hiding in a UN
convoy.
The message being portrayed in the film is very significant not
only to the audience, but the whole world. It is clear that ethnic
violence does not produce any positive outcome. Its end results
are very devastating. It only causes a lot of pain to families due
to the many killings and injuries cause to people. Violence
leaves behind piles of dead bodies. The bodies of dead people

4. could be seen lying everywhere, that is, in the villages and
streets. As in the film, it is clear that many people who killed
were very innocent, such as the children and women. The war
left victims in pain while perpetrators were convicted at the end
of the war. Irrespective of a tribe or race, there are those who
do not form sides, and they are ready to give hand even to those
from other groups. This is evident in Paul. Paul was a Hutu, and
after the killings had started in the country, he decided to help
his neighbors who were Tutsi (Sakota-Kokot 215). He also gave
refuge to refugees from overburdened camps, Red Cross, and
orphanage in his hotel. This means that there are those with
clear minds who are never in support of evil things in the
society. The film also tries to give reasons why people should
live in peace and harmony. No tribe, race, or ethnic group is
superior to the other. According to the film, the Hutu felt like
they were superior compared to the Tutsi because they were the
majority. This superiority complex made them believe that the
Tutsi were the cause of all the problems being experienced in
the country. This is why the Hutu extremist together with the
individuals who were incited decided to try and eliminate all the
Tutsi civilian population from the country. The film also tries to
show indirectly that there was a lack of international
intervention during the genocide crisis. From the film, it is clear
the UN Peacekeeping forces that were led by Nolte could
significantly assist people during the crisis, but they were not
able to take assertive action the Hutu extremists, Interahamwe
militia because they were prevented to intervene in the
genocide. This gives a picture that the lives of Africans at the
time were as valuable as those of Americans and Europeans who
were immediately taken out of the country.
In conclusion, the film was able to show clearly show how many
people were killed in the film as a result of the genocide that
took place in Rwanda. Many people lost their lives as a result of
the fight, not only the citizens of Rwanda, but also the
foreigners in the country together with the peacekeepers who

5. went to assist. Families were destroyed due to this fight. Those
who survived were later on affected by the events of the war.
There were those who were mentally and physically affected.
Ethnic violence is an issue because it causes death of many
people, even the innocent. Where there is possibility of
intervention, then it should be made before things get out of
hand. This shows that living in peace is very important to the
country and its people.
Works Cited
Sakota-Kokot, Tanja. "When the past talks to the present:
fiction narrative and the ‘other’in
Hotel Rwanda." Critical Arts 27.2 (2013): 211-234. Print.
Waldorf, Lars. "Revisiting Hotel Rwanda: genocide ideology,
reconciliation, and
rescuers." Journal of Genocide Research 11.1 (2009): 101-125.
Print.