I saw Hotel Rwanda earlier tonight

[Radical Activist]

What an incredible movie.
It has been some time since I have been so moved and disturbed by a movie. Don Cheadle gave an amazing performance and deserves an Oscar. It is difficult to comprehend the examples of the best in humanity and the worst in humanity shown in the film that came forth during those events. I was in High School when the tragedy occurred, and genocide was an abstract concept for me. I was vaguely aware that something was happening, but never understood it until I saw this film.

I don't want to give anything away, but I will say that the radio commentator who stirred on the genocide couldn't help but remind me of the conservative hate radio jocks we have today like Sean Hannity. They are only removed by a few degrees of severity.

If this movie loses Oscar recognition to Sideways it will merely show that the people who vote on the Oscars are a bunch of self-centered, narcissistic, egotistical asswipes who would rather see a movie about their own pathetic lives than something profound.

[AZCat]

1. We went to see that last night

I will send you a PM about the radio commentators and their fate if you are interested.

[Radical Activist]

3. Please do

Thanks

[AZCat]

5. Okay - sent it.

Check your inbox.


Edit: Typo

[SW FL Dem]

2. Last year my son studied the Eastern Hemisphere in Geography

Each kid was assigned a country to study and do a presentation on. My son was assigned Rwanda. What we learned about the genocide sickened us. I don't know if we are strong enough to see the movie but we applaud everyone who was brave enough to make sure it was made.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

4. I really want to see that one

[Solly Mack]

6. I want to see it but I'm afraid to see it

I had a mental collapse when it was actually happening. Brought on by deep depression over the fact it was happening.

I constantly sought out news sources for stories on Rwanda. I watched the news continuously just to hear anything about it.Over and over in my mind the bodies were washing down the river. The images stayed with me and I could find no release from them.

I stopped eating and stopped going out other than to get papers. I couldn't sleep and I cried daily. I truly felt all alone in my grief. My family threatened to have me committed. My husband, bless his heart, tried so hard to understand the depth of my depression and to talk with me. I was hard to live with because I was angry at everyone for not seeming to care enough.

I can't think of that time without crying. Not for me..my tears are still for those butchered.

It took a complete stranger to help me on the road to recovery. Out of the blue, this person starts talking about how much it hurt him to see humans once again killing each other. I was renting a U-Haul to move to Colorado Springs and the owner just came out with it. He doesn't know it but he helped me greatly.

I'm not sure I can see the movie without bringing back all those thoughts. I want to see it. I need to see it. That it's finally getting some attention, attention it deserves, pleases me....but it also angers me. Too little , too late, and all that.

My husband thinks it best if I wait for the DVD and watch it at home.

[Dukkha]

7. They actually considered Will Smith

to play Paul Rusesabagina
that would've ruined the movie

[Radical Activist]

8. I saw that on the Daily Show

You're right, it would have been horrible. Cheadle was excellent.

[tishaLA]

9. It's a really very good film

It puts crap like Million Dollar Trashy and Aviator to shame.

[Skittles]

10. hey RA, I'm very squeamish - is it OK for me?

how bad is the squeamish factor?

[jonnyblitz]

11. it isn't gory if that is what you mean....

but you might shed a tear if you are so inclined. I recommend it SKittles. :thumbsup:

[Skittles]

12. I will check it out

saw Don Cheadle onn The Daily Show and was very impressed.

[Radical Activist]

13. There are only a few scenes

that are graphic. There isn't a lot of it in the movie and they don't focus on that too much. Most of the movie takes place in the Hotel where people are being kept safe. I think they did a good job of showing the horror of what happened without going out of their way to gross people out. They show you what happened without being as graphic as something like Saving Private Ryan.
But those scenes are still very disturbing. I cried during two of them and I very rarely cry during a movie. I don't know what your tolerance level is so I'm not sure what advice to give you. I have a fairly strong sense of empathy and was deeply disturbed by the movie, but in a good way.

[MnFats]

14. that's my concern too...

...i'd like to see it with mrs. mnfats but if there are scenes of butchery she'll probably feel sick and walk out and be angry with me for a week for taking her.
....should I see it myself?
////and are there scenes of violence against children? she's a teacher and the thought of anyone mistreating a child just sickens her...

[Radical Activist]

15. There are scenes of children being saved.

One of the main subplots is the main character trying to find two missing nieces. The movie also discusses the children that were killed. I don't remember any graphic scenes of children being mistreated, but it is still part of the movie because it is part of what happened.

[muse]

20. You will both be fine.

It affected me emotionally, but in a positive way - it made me want to be sure this never happens again. There was certainly violence shown - enough to make you know what happened - but not incidents of genocide over and over again that were gruesome in their visual details. The movie is more about the story and the characters. It's very powerful and I would recommend it to everyone.

[Radical Activist]

16. Now that I've thought about it a little more

I think it was very tastefully done. I don't want to give too much away, but I'll give two examples. There is one scene where you know women are being raped, but they don't show it happening. It is blurred off into the background and only for a moment.
There are scenes of people being butchered, but they don't have any graphic close-up shots of blood gushing like a horror film. They were very effective at showing the terrible nature of what happened without sensationalizing it. I think it was done in much better taste than what I would expect from someone like Stephen Spielberg. Still, themes like genocide, including the mass killing of children, are deeply disturbing in themselves. I hope that helps you decide.

[jonnyblitz]

17. I agree. there were others things to be troubled by besides gore

the main thing that bothered me was watching them get a glimmer of hope, thinking they might be saved by somebody (UN or whoever) and me knowing help wasn't really on the way for the vast majority. that was the most bothersome of all. :(

[Radical Activist]

18. kick because

It's a really good movie and I want to brag that I actually had a date.

[barb162]

19. kick