Hotel Rwanda - How depressing is it?

[StaggerLee]

I borrowed a copy and want to watch it over the weekend but I have to mentally prepare. I can't just dive into a movie that's depressing.

A little heads-up here?

Thanks DU.

[shugah]

1. it's pretty depressing

heart-wrenching, guilt-inspiring, horrifying... it shows the worst of humankind to be sure. but, it also shows the best. Paul Rusesabagina's story is so inspiring - not because he set out to be a hero, but just ended up being one. admiration for his courage and resolve will get you through the movie.

[StaggerLee]

4. Thank you

This helps a bunch. I can do this now.

:hi:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Shugah has it right.....

It is horrifying......but uplifting as well.....

Prepare yourself, and watch it.......

I doubt that you will be sorry you did......

:hug:

[StaggerLee]

5. Thanks Peggy

I've noticed that you're one of the sweetest folks here on DU.

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. ............

:hug:

[friesianrider]

3. A little too Hollywood...

It is depressing, but I've spent practically my entire undergraduate career researching genocide and mass trauma in Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea, and I thought Hotel Rwanda was a bit too Hollywood-y. On the other hand, for being a Hollywood production, it was fairly accurate.

Sometime in September is a much, much more realistic portrayal if you're interested in the tragedy (and as such, it is much more depressing, but more accurate as well).

[StaggerLee]

6. Knowledge is power

I might be able to handle it if I got a friend to watch it with me.

Thanks for the info.

:hi:

[friesianrider]

10. Indeed :)

Hope you enjoy the film if you watch it, I think it puts a good "face" to what happened.

:hug:

[StaggerLee]

11. Thank you.

:hug:

[ET Awful]

7. You sure you don't mean "Sometimes in April"?

Just checking.

[friesianrider]

9. Shit!

Yes, you are absolutely correct, ET...thank you!

I swear I am losing my mind today. I was typing up a paper tonight and couldn't figure out why spellcheck was trying to correct assertated (I meant asserted) :eyes: I'm such a dork :)

[uppityperson]

12. Sometimes in April is way more depressing

Hotel Rwanda glosses over most of the graphic stuff, though there are a couple scenes. Sometimes in April was much more difficult to watch, though I felt it rounded out Hotel Rwanda.
http://www.hbo.com/films/sometimesinapril/
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0400063/

[friesianrider]

13. Yes, I agree 100% with you, uppity...

SiA was much more difficult for me to watch as well, but it is much more honest.

[LostinVA]

15. Hotel Rwanda is actually quite accurate

They even toned down some stuff demeaned "too Hollywood" and unbelievable. Another poster says they gloss over stuff. They actually did;t -- the movie was told through the POV of those in the Hotel... and they of course were Lucky enough to be isolated, basically safe, and somewhat unaware of the worst of the horror.

I think, however, that "Sometimes in April" gives a much better picture of the genocide, but that's not HR's fault. The latter is very much the genocide in microcosm, and actually does a very good job... I think Cheadle deserved the Oscar over Jamie Foxx... imo.

[Rabrrrrrr]

14. It's depressing, but also filled with hope and goodness

I got to hear Paul speak a month or so ago - amazing story. And I saw the film when it was in the theaters.

There is much of his story that didn't make it into the movie (otherwise it would have been 35 hours long), that's quite amazing.

He truly did pull a miracle out of his ass and had quite a number of other miracles happening around him.

Powerful, amazing story. It left me very angry at how the world abandoned Rwanda, but also pretty impressed that all over the world are little snippets of people willing to do truly amazing things to keep other people alive.

The amount of evil IS always matched by an equal, or greater, amount of good, I think.

[bigwillq]

16. Depressing and disturbing but

an important film to see.

[Hatalles]

17. You'll go through many emotions watching this film...

... but despite all the horrors, I found it pretty uplifting by the end.

[nashbridges]

18. Depressing but uplifting, like everyone said

But the extras, including the visit by the man the movie is based on to a museum full of dried human bodies who died during the genocide, that's rough.

Much like Schindler's List, the movie focuses on one man saving people instead of focusing on the killing. The horror gets lost in the translation.

But I doubt I'd want to watch a movie from the perspective of a general orchestrating genocide. It would be like watching a movie about Hitler getting his agenda in place. Those movies are always, always better served through documentaries. If they ever became entertainment, as opposed to pure information - we're done as a society.