Don Cheadle and Sophie Okonedo star in "Hotel Rwanda", a film chronicling the tragedies of the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, which claimed approximately 800,000 lives. Tensions between Tutsi and Hutu ethnic groups lead to war, and corruption and bribery become key to survival. When hotel manager Paul (Cheadle) and his wife Tatiana (Okonedo) witness the murder of several of their Tutsi neighbors, he takes his family and neighbors to the safety of his hotel. Soon, other refugees arrive at the hotel, and Paul takes them in, despite the dangers involved. He bravely attempts to protect both his family and others, despite being deserted by the U.N. Peacekeeping forces. Appropriately referred to as an African "Schindler's List", the film is both powerful and painful, and is a wonderful example of cinema's ability to inform an unaware public of the atrocities that nations and people often face. The suspense of the film helps propel the storyline and Cheadle and Okonedo are astounding in their career-defining roles. The film was justly nominated for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Original Screenplay. Much like "Schindler's List", it's a film that everyone should watch at least once. 7 out of 10 stars.
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