Hotel Rwanda

[kwilkinson]

So... I've seen this movie a few times now, and must admit it is extremely moving.

I know there have been cases of genocide in quite a few African countries in the last 20 years, and wanted to know if this movie is close to the truth or not?

I know the Rwandan genocide ended in 1994... but I was only 7 then, so some information would be appreciated.

 

[seanchai]

It's pretty accurate in terms of numbers dead and the impact on the society, etc. What specifically do you mean? There are some interesting threads here on Rwanda and the disparity between African and Western conceptions of identity, search for them.

Season of Blood by Fergal Keane is a fantastic book on the subject, as is We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families by Philip Gourevitch. Prunier's "The Rwanda Crisis" is great too, but more academic.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by seanchai

It's pretty accurate in terms of numbers dead and the impact on the society, etc. What specifically do you mean? There are some interesting threads here on Rwanda and the disparity between African and Western conceptions of identity, search for them.

Season of Blood by Fergal Keane is a fantastic book on the subject, as is We Wish To Inform You That Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families by Philip Gourevitch. Prunier's "The Rwanda Crisis" is great too, but more academic.


You pretty much answered specifically what I'd wanted to know. I should have searched first, especially knowing the wide range of topics on this forum, but I guess I assumed i wouldn't find anything before searching.

I find it crazy that there is still genocide in this world... especially when you couldn't tell any difference between the Tutsi's and the Kutu's. Thanks a lot for the book suggestions.

So is the movie also pretty true in the aspect of the UN basically being.... worthless over there? In the movie it seemed that they were disrespected and held basically no power.

 

[Violinist]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

You pretty much answered specifically what I'd wanted to know. I should have searched first, especially knowing the wide range of topics on this forum, but I guess I assumed i wouldn't find anything before searching.

I find it crazy that there is still genocide in this world... especially when you couldn't tell any difference between the Tutsi's and the Kutu's. Thanks a lot for the book suggestions.

So is the movie also pretty true in the aspect of the UN basically being.... worthless over there? In the movie it seemed that they were disrespected and held basically no power.

They could not stop anything from happening.

However, the character that Don Cheedle played was not so charitable. Dallaire basically forced him to take people in, and he was quite resistant. It's obviously a hollywood movie so what do you expect.

But yes, it does give you an idea of what went on in that short time. The worst part of it is that there was a lot of press comming out of there, pleading for help and nothing came.

If you want to read the book written by the general in command of the UN force there during the genocide, it's called Shaking Hands With the Devil by Gen. Romeo Dallaire. You see a character loosely based on him in the film. In real life, he went crazy and tried to kill himself.

 

[Nugget]

Anybody with a very strong sense of family/community could find themselves wielding weapons and going to war if injustices are institutionalised.

Northern Ireland is a great 'western' expample. No need at all to compare African/Western/Martian identities and cultures.

 

[Nugget]

Originally Posted by kwilkinson

So is the movie also pretty true in the aspect of the UN basically being.... worthless over there? In the movie it seemed that they were disrespected and held basically no power.

I have an Aussie friend here in Kenya who is a military/security advisor. One of his quotable quotes - "If the UN is the answer, it was a ******* stupid question!".

Sorry for the language, but it wouldn't be the same with editing.....

Don't know enough myself, but it's a great soundbite.

 

[EnglishGent]

As a side note, if you do a little research you will see a pattern forming with the UN's ability to actually do very little in war zones and allow a lot of unpleasantness.

 

[Eustace Tilley]

While I agree that the UN is often ineffective in a peacekeeping role, the world has yet to propose an alternate solution. We all love to talk sh*t about the UN, but there's little denying the fact that they their peacekeeping efforts do provide some good and are better than doing nothing (which is what most Western countries opt to do when something happens in Africa).

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by Eustace Tilley

While I agree that the UN is often ineffective in a peacekeeping role, the world has yet to propose an alternate solution. We all love to talk sh*t about the UN, but there's little denying the fact that they their peacekeeping efforts do provide some good and are better than doing nothing (which is what most Western countries opt to do when something happens in Africa).

I thought this was an interesting aspect of the movie... especially when Paul is giving the UN official the scotch at the bar and the UN general is telling him how the west, namely America, view them. That and when Joaquin Phoenix, the cameraman, tells him about how Americans will view it and so 'that's horrible' then go on with their dinner.

 

[EnglishGent]

Eustace, I agree completely that there is no better alternative and I'd rather have the UN around than not, but I do think that the movie does a very good job a showing the downsides of the UN. The worst part is that the UN would be far more effective if it was allowed to do what it was intended for, as opposed to being limited by the countries that "support" it. Maybe when I hit 100 posts eventually, I'll take part in more conversations of this sort, for now I turn the thread back to the movie.

 

[kwilkinson]

Originally Posted by EnglishGent

Eustace, I agree completely that there is no better alternative and I'd rather have the UN around than not, but I do think that the movie does a very good job a showing the downsides of the UN. The worst part is that the UN would be far more effective if it was allowed to do what it was intended for, as opposed to being limited by the countries that "support" it. Maybe when I hit 100 posts eventually, I'll take part in more conversations of this sort, for now I turn the thread back to the movie.

haha... when i first started, I was RACING to get to 100 so i could get in current events forum.

 

[EnglishGent]

That was my first thought when I saw that I needed 100 to get in, but then I decided that I didn't want to spam the forum in the limited time during the week that I would actually be able to post (only have an hour or so a week when I can post, work forbids participation in online forums). Instead I just read and contribute where and when I can.

 

[Nugget]

The Rwandan Embassy has a dvd documentary of this episode of their history.

You can probably call them and get a copy. I suggest you try.

Moving is a huge understatement. I have some close Tutsi friends, and the simplest questions about it suggest that the DVD is possibly understating some aspects.

 

[Southern-Nupe]

The movie (while one of my favorites) has a little bit of Hollywood added to it. The genocide was definately disturbing, but as an earlier poster said, Paul was initially reluctant to take the people in. At the same time, I've read stories early on, in which the White House denied that the Rwandan masscres could be considered genocidal.

 

[Southern-Nupe]

Originally Posted by Nugget

I have an Aussie friend here in Kenya who is a military/security advisor. One of his quotable quotes - "If the UN is the answer, it was a ******* stupid question!".

Sorry for the language, but it wouldn't be the same with editing.....

Don't know enough myself, but it's a great soundbite.
Yeah,

I have a colleague who still has family in Kenya, needless to say she's having a difficult time coping with everything that's taking place...can't say I blame her.

I've seldom heard anymore about the UN's more recent involvements in Sudan.