Comprehension and Discussion Activities for the Movie
Hotel Rwanda
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Background
Information
Rwanda
Rwanda is a country in Central
Africa with a population of 10
million people. Historical
records begin with a Tutsi king who took power in 1860.
During this time, the Tutsi were the aristocracy and the Hutu
were their servants. After World War I the League of Nations
(an early version of the United Nations) gave Belgium power
to administer Rwanda.
The Belgians used the already existing Tutsi
and Hutu
differences and made these
differences part of their colonial
system.
The Hutu were used as forced labor for the
colonial administration, and the Tutsi
supervised them. In 1933, Rwandans were given an ethnic identity card showing if they were
Hutu or Tutsi. At that time, 85% were Hutu and 15% were Tutsi. This ID card and Belgium’s
policy of favoring the Tutsi over the Hutu prepared Rwanda for future violence.
In 1959, three years before independence from Belgium in 1962, the Hutus overthrew the ruling
Tutsi king. Over the next several years, thousands of Tutsis were killed. About 150,000 went into
exile in neighboring countries. The children of these Tutsi exiles later formed a rebel group, the
Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF), and began a civil war in 1990. This war, along with political and
economic problems, made ethnic tensions worse and led to the April 1994 genocide shown in the
film Hotel Rwanda.
The Film
Hotel Rwanda is based on real characters and events that happened in Rwanda in
1994. It focuses on the efforts of Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager, to hide
hundreds of Tutsi refugees from the Interahamwe militia.
The real Paul Rusesabagina with Don Cheadle, the actor
who played him in Hotel Rwanda.
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Important Vocabulary to Know
 Hutu Power- A belief that the Hutu were superior to Tutsi and that
Tutsi were dangerous to the Hutu people and to Rwanda.
United Nations- an international organization of countries whose stated goals are to facilitate
cooperation between countries to bring about law, security and peace.
Militia- a group of people joined together to form an irregular army.
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Interahamwe- Translates to “Those who stand/work/fight together. They were a Hutu power
militia who perpetrated much of the genocide against Tutsis in the 1994 genocide.
Day 1
Answer questions 1-5 while watching the film
1. In the opening scene of the film, you are listening to Hutu Power Radio, the radio announcer
says the Tutsis had collaborated with a European group. Who was that European group?
2. What ethnic group is Paul Ruseabaginga? What about his wife?
3. Who created the division of Hutu and Tutsi? How did they decide who was Hutu and who was
Tutsi?
4. What happened to the President of Rwanda? Who do you think committed the act?
5. What do you think is meant by the phrase, “cut the tall trees”?
Discussion Questions: Answer this question in a complete paragraph, on the last page of this
packet, be prepared to discuss your response in groups.
1. The Rwandan journalist explained the history of Tutsi-Hutu relations:
“According to the Belgian colonists, the Tutsis are taller and more elegant. It was the Belgians that
created the division. They picked people, those with thinner noses, lighter skin. They used to
measure the width of people’s noses. The Belgians used the Tutsis to run the country. Then when
they left, they left the power to the Hutus, and of course the Hutus took revenge on the elite Tutsis
for years of repression.”
a. If you were Hutu, would you be angry with the Belgians who made physical differences
important?
b. What if you were a Tutsi? Would you believe the Belgians and treat the Hutu like they
were not as good as you?
c. Can you think of any other examples of countries where ethnic or religious groups were
treated differently by colonial powers?
Day 2
Answer questions 6-10 while watching the film
6. Why does the United Nations Colonel say they will not intervene?
7. What happened to children at the orphanage?
8. Why are the militias targeting children?
9. Why does the UN general say no western country will step in to help?
10. What does Paul urge people in the hotel to do to get help, what does he say will happen if they
do not get help?
Discussion Questions: Answer this question in a complete paragraph, on the last page of this
packet, be prepared to discuss your response in groups.
2. Paul thanks Jack for risking his life and filming the killing. Paul hopes Jack’s
bravery will bring help. Jack replies:
“If people see this footage, they’ll say ‘Oh, my God, that’s horrible,’ and then they’ll
go on eating their dinners.”
a. Was Jack right (do you agree or disagree)?
b. If Jack was right, would you try to get people to help? How?
3. Sitting at the bar, UN Colonel Oliver has some very straightforward words for
Paul as to why the world is not helping in Rwanda.
“You're black. You're not even a n***er. You're an African.”
a. What do you think is meant by this quote?
b. What role do you think race played in this situation? If a majority of Rwandans
were white, do you think the world reaction would be different?
Day 3
Answer questions 11- 15 while watching the film
11. When Paul goes to get supplies from George Rutaganda, how many Tutsis have already
been killed according to George?
12. What happens on Paul and Gregoire’s trip back from picking up supplies?
13. What happens to Paul’s family when they try to evacuate?
14. How does Paul convince General Bizimungu to go back to the hotel to stop the
Interahamwe?
15. Who do Paul and Tatiana find in the refugee camp?
Conclusion
Discussion Questions: Answer these questions below in complete sentences, be prepared to
discuss these questions at the end.
1.
Based on the end of the film, what might you speculate about Rwanda's future
(from the perspective of 1994)?
2.
What does this movie illustrate about the human spirit both good and bad?
3.
Should another situation like this arise, what should the United States and the
world do to stop it and why ?
Discussion Questions:
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3.
Conclusion Questions
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