Hotel Rwanda

HOTEL RWANDA

By Darrin L Session

​Hotel Rwanda is based on real characters and events that took place in Rwanda in 1994. Tension between Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups reached acrisis point in that year, when Rwandan radio announced that May 5 was to be the ‘cleanup day’. On that day the capital, Kigali, must be cleansed of Tutsis. Nearly one million people were killed by Hutu militia shortly after this announcement. Hotel Rwanda is a film about this event. Hotel Rwanda is also about Paul Rusesabagina, who made the hotel he managed into a refugee camp. This single daring act allowed thousands to survive.

While You Watch

2.1: Hutu and Tutsi 00.00 – 17:10

The President is Killed
23.35 – 37.30

Open Ended

Tatiana’s sister and brother-in-law visit ___________ at the Milles Collines.

Because of the danger, they want to leave ___________ and take ___________

and the children with them. They feel Paul is in no danger because he is a

___________, while they, Tatiana, and the children are ___________.

Open Ended

Paul says there is no danger as the ___________ and the ___________ are watching.

Later, Paul is driving home and hears gunfire, shouting and glass breaking.

Buildings are burning. When he arrives, his family and ___________ are

hiding in the dark. There are no ___________ on. They say there is a

___________ that ___________ has been ___________, and ___________ have

killed him. Paul says this is “nonsense”.

2.3: Evacuation
37.30 – 56.50

Multiple Choice

1. Paul calls Mr. Tillens, the owner of the Milles Collines, because he is afraid

Mr. Tillens will close the hotel. If the Milles Collines is closed, there will be no

safe shelter for the refugees.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

The European Intervention force is not going to stay and is sent to evacuate

only foreign guests.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Colonel Oliver agrees with the decision to evacuate the foreign guests only.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Paul is correct when he tells Mr. Tillens everything is calm and the United

Nations has everything under control.

• True

• False

Genocide
56.50 – 1.16.25

Open Ended

When the Hutu army arrives at the Milles Collines, Paul again calls

___________, the president of the company that owns the hotel. He explains

the situation is worse, and he doesn’t have much time before he is

___________. He says, “I want to ___________ for everything that you have

done for me and my family. Please thank all of my ___________ at Sabena.”

This politeness encourages Mr. Tillens to call the ___________ who support

the ___________.

Open Ended

Paul suggests a similar plan to hotel guests and staff: “We can only save

___________. Many of you know ___________ people abroad. You must

___________ these people. You must tell them what will happen to us. Say

___________. But when you say goodbye, say it as if you are reaching through

the phone and ___________. Let them know that if they let go of that hand,

you will ___________. We must ___________ them into sending help.”