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Hotel Rwanda

2004 film by Terry George

Hotel Rwanda is a 2004 film about a Hutu who is the manager of a hotel in Kigali, Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. While striving to protect his family and hundreds of Tutsi refugees from the Hutu mass-murderers, he faces an additional struggle to overcome international indifference to the country's plight.

There will be no rescue, no intervention force. We can only save ourselves. Many of you know influential people abroad, you must call these people. You must tell them what will happen to us... say goodbye. But when you say goodbye, say it as though you are reaching through the phone and holding their hand. Let them know that if they let go of that hand, you will die.
There's always room.
I think that when people see this footage, they'll say, "Oh my God, that's horrible," and then go on eating their dinners.
And why not? Why not? We are halfway there already.
Directed by Terry George. Written by Terry George and Keir Pearson.
When the world closed its eyes, he opened his arms.

Paul Rusesabagina

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  • There will be no rescue, no intervention force. We can only save ourselves. Many of you know influential people abroad, you must call these people. You must tell them what will happen to us... say goodbye. But when you say goodbye, say it as though you are reaching through the phone and holding their hand. Let them know that if they let go of that hand, you will die. We must shame them into sending help.

Georges Rutaganda

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  • [first lines, voiceover] When people ask me, good listeners, why do I hate all the Tutsi, I say, "Read our history." The Tutsi were collaborators for the Belgian colonists, they stole our Hutu land, they whipped us. Now they have come back, these Tutsi rebels. They are cockroaches. They are murderers. Rwanda is our Hutu land. We are the majority. They are a minority of traitors and invaders. We will squash this infestation. We will wipe out the RPF rebels. This is RTLM, Hutu power radio. Stay alert. Watch your neighbours.

Other

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  • Jack: [walking towards the bus carrying all the whites who are leaving Rwanda while the blacks are left behind] Jesus Christ, I'm so ashamed!
  • RTLM broadcast: Listen to me good people of Rwanda. Terrible news. Horrible news. Our great president is murdered by the Tutsi cockroaches. They tricked him into signing their phony peace agreement then they shot his plane from the sky. It is time to clear the great brush, good Hutus of Rwanda. We must cut the tall trees. Cut all tall trees down! Let us get to work good Hutus! Find the traitors! Let none escape!
  • RTLM broadcast: The Tutsi cockroaches of the rebel army must be denied recruits! Come on good Hutus! The graves are not yet full!
  • End titles: Paul Rusesabagina sheltered 1268 Tutsi and Hutu refugees at the Milles Collines Hotel in Kigali. ...Paul and Tatiana now live in Belgium with their children, Roger, Diane, Lys, Tresor and their adopted nieces Anais and Carine. ...Tatiana's brother Thomas and his wife Fedens were never found. ...In 2002, General Augustin Bizimungu was captured in Angola and transported to the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal in Tanzania. At the same tribunal the Interhamwe leader George Rutaganda was sentenced to life in prison. ...The genocide ended in July 1994, when the Tutsi rebels drove the Hutu army and the Interhamwe militia across the border into the Congo. ...They left behind almost a million corpses.

Dialogue

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Dube: Oh, that is a fine cigar sir!
Paul: This is a Cohiba cigar, each one is worth 10,000 Francs.
Dube: 10,000 Francs!
Paul: Yes yes, but it's worth more to me than 10,000 Francs.
Dube: What do you mean, sir?
Paul: If I give a businessman 10,000 Francs, what does that matter to him? He is rich. But, if I give him a Cohiba Cigar straight from Havana, Cuba? Hey, Now that is style Dube.
Dube: Style!
Tatiana: My brother is dead, they would never leave their children.
Paul: Perhaps they could not make it home Tatiana, they're hiding. Please, can you return and bring the girls back here to us?
Pat Archer: I can't, there are Interahamwe roadblocks everywhere. (pauses; Tatiana is weeping) When I reached the orphanage, the Interahamwe were there. They already started killing children. They made me watch. Then, there was one girl, she had her little sister wrapped on her back. (weeping) As they're about to chop her, she cried out to me, "please don't let them kill me. I... I promise I won't be Tutsi anymore."
Tatiana: I... I can't- (walks away)
Pat Archer: They're targeting Tutsi children, Paul, to wipe out the next generation.
Jack: Listen, sorry about earlier. If I knew you that you were in there, I wouldn't-
Paul: I am glad that you have shot this footage and that the world will see it. It is the only way we have a chance that people might intervene.
Jack: (pauses) Yeah and if no one intervenes? It's still a good thing to show?
Paul: How can they not intervene? When they witness such atrocities?
Jack: I think that when people see this footage, they'll say, "Oh my God, that's horrible," and then go on eating their dinners.
Paul: You know, I admire you general. How do you keep calm of your men in such madness?
General Bizimungu: I am a strong man Paul.
Paul: I wish I were more like you. I mean look at my staff (pointing at Gregoire flirting with a woman) he won't work, listens to no one.
General Bizimungu: (Sees Gregoire) He is staff?
Paul: Oh yes.
General Bizimungu: (Walks over to Gregoire and throws ice bucket on to him) Get back to work you slob! (Hitting Gregoire) Go!
Paul: Congratulations Colonel, you have performed a man of miracle.
Colonel Oliver: Congratulations?
Paul: Yes sir.
Colonel Oliver: (drinking) You should spit in my face.
Paul: Excuse me, Colonel?
Colonel Oliver: You’re dirt. We think you’re dirt, Paul.
Paul: Who is we?
Colonel Oliver: The West. All the super powers. Everything you believe in, Paul. They think you’re dirt. They think you’re dung. You’re worthless!
Paul: I am afraid I don't understand what you are saying.
Colonel Oliver: Oh, come on, don't bullshit me, Paul. You're the smartest man here. You got 'em all eating out of your hands. You could own this frigging hotel, except for one thing: you're black. You're not even a nigger. You're an African. They’re not gonna stay, Paul. They’re not gonna stop this slaughter.
Paul: You have no whiskey?
George: No whiskey, no spirits. Your rich guests will have to do without their scotch. Anyway, Paul, I have bled that cow enough now.
Paul: What are you saying, George?
George: Your rich cockroaches at the hotel... their money is no good to them anymore. Soon, all of the Tutsis will be dead.
Paul: You do not honestly believe that you can kill them all.
George: And why not? Why not? We are halfway there already. Oh, and Paul, I will give you a crate of soft drinks for the kids. No charge. [To his men] Ten bags of beans! Come! Put those in the van, you! [To Paul] Let me give you a tip my friend, our generals in the army say 'do not go near the Mille Collines or they will send the Belgian soldiers back here'. But soon, those generals will have gone, and we will be in charge. It is time to butcher your cow for the meat. [Pauses] Maybe you can help us Paul. You have some very important traitors at your hotel. Now, if we were to get them, then maybe we could let you have one of two cockroaches of your own. You understand?
Paul: It is almost dawn, George. We really must be going.
George: Take the river road back. It's clear.
Paul: (discussing about massacre by the river road) Hundreds? it was too many to count.
Dube: (pauses) Why are people so cruel?
Paul: Hatred? Insanity? I don't know.
General Bizimungu: I am going to take you with us, to our new headquarters in Gitarama.
Paul: I do not want to go to Gitarama, sir.
General Bizimungu: Well, you can't go back to the hotel. The crazy men are on their way there now.
Paul: General, we must go back, so that I can get my family!
General Bizimungu: Trust me. We are better off here.
Paul: General....these are difficult times. We need to help one another.
General Bizimungu: And what help can I get from you, Paul?
Paul: You are a marked man, sir.
General Bizimungu: How so?
Paul: You are on a list! The Americans have you on their list as a war criminal!
General Bizimungu: Paul, I am sick and tired of your lies!
Paul: Are you stupid, General?! How do you think these people operate?! You sit here with five stars on your chest; who do you think they're coming after?! (Bizimungu realizes what Paul just said) We will go to Gitarama, and you'll stay on that list.
General Bizimungu: I committed no war crimes.
Paul: Who will tell them? You need me to tell them how you helped at the hotel. They blame you for all their misfortunes - they say you lead the massacres!
General Bizimungu: I lead no massacres!
Paul: Do you think they will believe you?!
General Bizimungu: You will tell them the truth!
Paul: I will tell them nothing unless you help me! (sees Bizimungu attempting to pull out his handgun) What are you going to do, shoot me? Shoot me. Please, shoot me. It would be a blessing, I will pay you to shoot my family. You cannot hurt me.

[last lines]

Pat Archer: They said that there wasn't any room.
Paul Rusesabagina: There's always room.

Cast

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