Category: Communication

Hotel Rwanda is a film which tells us the true story of the Rwandan Genocide. When the Belgians colonised Rwanda they spilt up the people into two ‘races’. The Hutu and the Tutsi. The Belgium government put the Tutsi in charge and gave them all the privileges in life. The Hutus became enraged and jealous of the Tutsis but had no power of their own to do anything about it. Until the Belgians left. When the Belgians had no more use for Rwanda and they had drained all of the country’s resources they just packed their bags and left. However they left the Hutus in charge and they took revenge. And the genocide began. This is what Terry George the director focused his film Hotel Rwanda on. I am going to focus on the four cinematographic techniques I feel make the biggest affect on our physiological view point.

The director increases suspension in the second frame by adding special effects for example fog. While they, Paul and Gregoire are driving along the river road because it is ‘clear’ according to Georges the head of the interahamwe.  The fog makes it look peaceful and as if the Genocide is not taking place. It is a long/ establishing shot, at a low angle this is important because you can see the surroundings and you can not see any dead bodies or any signs of a genocide which contrasts what is actually happening in Rwanda. The music adds to the tension because it is a calming peaceful song. however, in the mind of the viewer we know it is too good to be true and too cliche. We know this but nothing can prepare us to the horrors that we see.

The director uses focus in Paul’s epiphany scene to show Paul’s mindset and how he has not yet made clear the Genocide in Rwanda. throughout the scene Paul is the only one in focus until he has his epiphany and at that point  everything becomes clear in his mind and literally on the road . The frame shows at least fifty dead all laying on the road. This causes Paul to  throw up. When he gets back to the hotel he rushes upstairs and has a breakdown and tries to wash away the horrific things he saw on that wretched night.

Terry George also uses non digestic sound to increase tension in Paul’s epiphany scene. As Paul falls out of the van and lands next to a dead child a sound is made. I think it is the sound of two machetes. As we already know machetes were one of the main weapons used by the Interhamwe to commit the murders. Terry George used the machetes to reinforce the fact that these are murders not just deaths, and bloody murders at that. It is also used as a flashback in Paul’s mind. Paul has seen many machetes since the start of the genocide but when he saw the dead bodies he thought of the machetes again.

One of the techniques Terry George uses in his interpretation of the Rwandan genocide is camera shots. I am going to focus on the use of the point of view shot (POV). Through out the scene it goes into the POV of Paul. This is very powerful and plays upon the minds of the viewer because we feel as if we are involved. We do not just watch Paul through this tough time. We become him. Without POV i believe we would just see it as a film and not a true story, however true George’s interpretation of the genocide actually is. The reason it builds tension is because in one of the frames we only see the legs and feet of the dead Rwandans. We begin to build up hope that maybe some people are still alive. Through out this time the came shot is changing and after around five to ten seconds we finally see all the corpses and our hopes are crushed.

In conclusion, what Terry George wanted to achieve was achieved. He wanted us to feel as if we were involved in this terrible time through out history. By increasing tension griped us and wanted us to make chase and stay griped. Rather like a fishing hook with a Big Mac on the end. However I also think he was misleading in his interpretation. The genocide was a lot worse then he made out in his film. This could make the audience not as bothered and in a way say ‘well is wasn’t that bad’. I find this rude because if it was in the western world it would of been top priority and it seems as if it was not that urgent to tell the world the True story of the Rwandan Genocide.

The director increases suspension in the second frame by adding special effects for example fog. While they Paul and Gregawa are driving along the river road because it is ‘clear’ according to George the head of the interahamwe. Because of the fog it looks peaceful and as if the Genocide is not taking place. It is a long/ establishing shot, at a low angle this is important because you can see the surroundings you can not see any dead bodies or any signs of a genocide which contrasts what is actually happening in Rwanda. The music adds to the tension because it is a calming peaceful song. however, in the mind of the viewer we know it is too good to be true and too cliche. We know this but nothing can prepare us to the horrors that we see.

Camera shots:

Camera angles:

Romeo Montague is a tragic hero, He is one of many tragic heroes created by Shakespeare in one of his greatest ever tragedies. Romeo posses all of the characteristics one must have to be a tragic hero, these are, a tragic flaw, the idea of being doomed, a moral dilemma, and the sense of catharsis around Romeo.

Romeo’s tragic flaw was his attempt to see the good in everybody even if they had wronged him, this was very naive of him. This is a tragic flaw because although it may seem as if it is a good quality,  this is a flaw as in the end it brings upon his fate. This caused the death of his best friend Mercutio ‘Draw, Benvolio. Beat down their weapons.’ as Romeo splits up the fight, the Tybalt he believed could change for the better and change his ways stabbed Mercutio and killed him.

Romeo tried to change his fate, however what Romeo thought his fate and what we knew it was were totally different concepts. Romeo believed his fate was that God wanted to split him and Juliet up and he had been following this by staying in Mantua and living. When Romeo was in Mantua and Balthazar told him Juliet was ‘dead’ .Romeo felt as if he had followed God’s will and he would do so no longer and Romeo openly expresses he will no longer obey the will of God and says  ‘I defy you Stars’ this is when Romeo decides to kill himself to be with Juliet. But, as we know this brings his fate even closer and the fact that Juliet and himslef will kill themselves. This in my opinion is complicated topic because why would God want people to kill people.

Romeo’s moral dilemma was having to choose between his friends and family and then Juliet. One of the key events in the play was the death of Mercutio who was killed by Tybalt Juliet’s cousin. Romeo refused to help Mercutio and kill Tybalt and said ‘But love thee better than thou canst devise,/Till thou shalt know the reason of my love.’ He could not choose between Juliets cousin and his best friend Mercutio this is his moral dilemma.

The feeling of  catharsis around Romeo Montague was when   he drank the poison which killed him.“Here’s to my love! O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” we feel pity because we feel sorry for him because all he wanted to do was be with his true love but it was never meant to be. We also feel terror because of the fact we are going to witness someone kill themselves.

In conclusion this proves Romeo Montague was a tragic hero he has all of the characteristics of a tragic hero and in my opinion the greatest tragic hero, this is because of the fact his motivation was not power but just being with someone he loves.

John: Alright mate

Lawrence: is that you John? welcome back mate, what’s Romeo saying  and if he messaged back show me the message.

John: I went to find another lad to follow me there , he was already there going to  The Millwall game but the firm thought we were West Ham fans said we were not allowed through so our trip to the Den ended there.

Lawrence: Who then got my message to Romeo?

John: I couldn’t send it there was no service so here’s your phone again. I couldn’t send another lad there either The firm couldn’t risk it.

Lawrence: Oh no the message was not nice but very important and by Romeo not receiving it, danger will follow. John get me a crowbar and bring it to my flat straight away.

John: Mate i’ll bring it to ya

Lawrence: Now I must go to the cemetery by myself, In three hours Juliet will wake up and will be mad at me that Romeo don’t have a clue whats going on, I will try and message him again. I will keep Juliet in my flat until Romeo arrives. Poor living body, shut in a dead persons place.

Romeo enters the Capulet’s tomb and finds Paris there he thinks Romeo wants to ruin the body so they  fight and Paris is killed. Romeo then takes the poison and dies next to Juliet she then wakes and finds him dead so she stabs herself. The families, Lawrence and the Prince enter and the Frair explains the story of their love and he agreed to do it so the families grudge will end. The Prince understands this and blames it on the families they then tell each other that states will be made of Juliet and Romeo. The play  ends with the Prince saying ‘For never was a story of more woe / Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.’

friar John returns to friar Lawrence with the letter and tells  him he couldn’t enter Mantua as there is a plague. Friar Lawrence tells John to bring him an iron crow bar so he can get Juliet out of the Capulet tomb.

Romeo has a dream that he is dead but Juliet revives him with a kiss but then Balthasar returns and tells him she is dead. Romeo is angry and says. ‘I defy you Stars’ they then visit an apothecary who agrees to sell Romeo a poison illegally for a lot of gold so Romeo can be reunited with Juliet in the afterlife.

the nurse finds Juliet dead everyone is so sad for this terrible event and changes the wedding plans to funeral plans. Friar Lawrence pretends that he does not know what happened and gives words of advice that she is now in heaven and well. The scene ends with the musicians playing music.

every body is getting ready for the wedding, all is well and going to plan in the kitchen capulet sends the nurse to wake Juliet.