Hotel Hotel RwandaRwanda

Aim: To analyse Aim: To analyse whether one person whether one person

can make a can make a differencedifference

Film Synopsis:Film Synopsis: 17 years ago as the country of Rwanda 17 years ago as the country of Rwanda

descended into madness, one man made descended into madness, one man made a promise to protect the family he loved a promise to protect the family he loved and ended up finding the courage to and ended up finding the courage to save over 1,200 people. save over 1,200 people. Hotel Rwanda Hotel Rwanda tells the inspiring story of real-life hero tells the inspiring story of real-life hero Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager in Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager in Rwanda who used his courage and Rwanda who used his courage and cunning to shelter over a 1000 refugees cunning to shelter over a 1000 refugees from certain death. While the rest of the from certain death. While the rest of the world closed its eyes, Paul opened his world closed its eyes, Paul opened his heart and proved that one good man can heart and proved that one good man can make a difference.make a difference.

LEARNING OBJECTIVESLEARNING OBJECTIVES::

1. To identify the importance of 1. To identify the importance of personal responsibility to the group personal responsibility to the group or community.or community.

2. To examine personal motivations 2. To examine personal motivations for actions.for actions.

In small groups you will:In small groups you will:

reflect upon and discuss Paul’s reflect upon and discuss Paul’s journey. journey.

You will then be asked to reflect You will then be asked to reflect upon an instance in your life when upon an instance in your life when you witnessed an injustice and then you witnessed an injustice and then examine your response.examine your response.

1. Get into groups of 3-4 to 1. Get into groups of 3-4 to discuss the following: discuss the following:

What role did Tatiana Rusesabagina play in What role did Tatiana Rusesabagina play in shaping Paul’s actions?shaping Paul’s actions?

Who else influenced Paul’s decisions?Who else influenced Paul’s decisions? How did Paul’s definition of family expand to How did Paul’s definition of family expand to

include the community later on in the film?include the community later on in the film? How and why does Paul’s attitude change How and why does Paul’s attitude change

over the course of the film?over the course of the film? How would you describe his level of How would you describe his level of

personal responsibility and investment as personal responsibility and investment as events unfolded?events unfolded?

How would you describe Paul’s level of How would you describe Paul’s level of empowerment throughout the movie? empowerment throughout the movie? Explain.Explain.

2: The Media2: The Media

What power does the media have to What power does the media have to promote hateful actions and incite promote hateful actions and incite violence.violence.

What role does the media have to What role does the media have to influence and inspire action as it relates to influence and inspire action as it relates to human rights crises.human rights crises.

How media is used today to tell people How media is used today to tell people about domestic and international events.about domestic and international events.

Before watching discussBefore watching discuss:: What role does the media play in your lives?What role does the media play in your lives? Have you ever watched or read a story that Have you ever watched or read a story that

made you angry or made you take action? made you angry or made you take action?

Do you ever discuss the news or a show Do you ever discuss the news or a show they watched with their parents? Friends? they watched with their parents? Friends?

How far would you go to report a story?How far would you go to report a story?

Think about the above questions as you Think about the above questions as you watch the film but from thewatch the film but from the perspective of perspective of the different characters in the movie the different characters in the movie

In groups of 4-5In groups of 4-5

discuss your responses to the discuss your responses to the questions from both their personal questions from both their personal perspective and that of the perspective and that of the characters in the moviecharacters in the movie

1. How were words & images in the media presented 1. How were words & images in the media presented in the movie?in the movie?

2. What was the response from different characters 2. What was the response from different characters in the movie:in the movie:

a) the hotel staff, a) the hotel staff, b) the people in Kigali and the rest of Rwanda, b) the people in Kigali and the rest of Rwanda, c) the foreign nationals, the foreign press, c) the foreign nationals, the foreign press, d) the UN & the international community to the d) the UN & the international community to the

following: following:

the information on the radio in Rwanda; the information on the radio in Rwanda; the attitude of the foreign journalists in Rwanda; the attitude of the foreign journalists in Rwanda; the reporting out of Rwanda to the international the reporting out of Rwanda to the international

community; community; the news coming into Rwanda from outside the the news coming into Rwanda from outside the

countrycountry??

3) What was the rest of the world watching, 3) What was the rest of the world watching, reading and listening to during the genocide reading and listening to during the genocide in 1994?in 1994?

4) Who is responsible for the actions and 4) Who is responsible for the actions and inaction of the media?inaction of the media?

5) What should we expect from the media; 5) What should we expect from the media; how can we hold them accountable?how can we hold them accountable?

6) What is the level of public responsibility 6) What is the level of public responsibility when issues are brought to light by the when issues are brought to light by the media?media?