Question

Over view and identify economic concepts int he movie Hotel Rawanda.

Answer 1

Overview of the movie Hotel Rwanda:

Hotel Rwanda is a story about systematic genocide that occurred in Rwanda in the year 1994. This story is about one person who showed the courage amidst the genocide. Rwanda got its independence from Belgium in 1962 which marked the growth of ethnic tensions and violent attacks between two Hutu and Tutsi groups. Since Tutsi group was in minority, they started migrating to neighboring countries. In 1990, Tutsi rebel exile group's failed invasion led to a civil war that ended in August, 1993.

On April 6, 1994, Rwandan president was killed due to attack on his plane at Kigali Airport. Hutus blamed Tutsi's for the attack and death of president. Following which the Hutus militia groups started mobilizing across Rwanda. Over the course of 100 days, these Hutu groups killed almost 8 lakhs Tutsis. When all this slaughter was happening, international community did nothing to stop it.

Hotel Rwanda is a story about Paul Rusesabagina, manager at a luxury hotel owned by a Belgian in Kigali, Rwanda. Paul is highly skilled at pleasing guests and has good connect with local businessman and army officers who often visit the bar of hotel. Paul is Hutu while his wife is a Tutsi. His children are mixed race. When the genocide began, Tutsi neighbor of Paul’s started rushing to his house asking for shelter. Paul bribed army officer to let the Tutsi be taken to the Hotel. This was the starting of 1000 Tutsi and moderate Hutu taking refuge in the Hotel.

When the situation worsened, UN withdrew its peacekeeping forces. Foreign governments also sent their troops but to protect their citizens. The only reason which was given by head of UN to Paul for withdrawing troops was – they were African.

But Paul did not back down, he saved his family and other 1268 people based on his courage, guile and connections.

The different economics concepts that are identified are:

• It wiped out a third of its country work force as people were killed and several other fled the countries or relocated
• Lack of education as many teachers were killed which led to lack of specialists and illiterate people
• Infrastructure was badly damaged which led to fall in investments
• Large number of orphaned children which were not sent to schools
• Due to poor healthcare infrastructure, Rwanda could not control the HIV outbreak
• GDP could have been 25 to 30% higher if the genocide wouldn’t have happened
• Drop in the price of coffee, devaluation of currency in 1989, inflation from 1990 onward were several other factors which happened