Hotel

Hotel

Year: 2003

Runtime: 93 min

Language: Swedish

Director: Mike Figgis

Comedy

Erika finds herself at a peculiar hotel, a support group where the other guests' backgrounds are kept secret. As she participates, she discovers a surprising blend of humor and heartfelt honesty. Through shared experiences and unexpected connections, Erika begins to confront her own emotional struggles and find a path toward healing within this unusual community.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Hotel yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Hotel (2003)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Hotel (2003). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1994

The events of the movie unfold during the Rwandan Genocide in 1994, a devastating period marked by ethnic conflict and mass killings. Over a span of approximately 100 days, the Hutu extremists orchestrated the murder of nearly one million Tutsi individuals. This time was characterized by violence, fear, and a shocking international indifference to the atrocities occurring.

Location

Kigali, Rwanda

The movie takes place in Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda, known for its lush hills and vibrant culture. In the 1990s, it was a center of conflict during the Rwandan Genocide, where numerous lives were tragically lost. The hotel Mille Collines becomes a refuge during this dark time, symbolizing hope amidst the chaos.

🏨 Hotel 🌍 Africa

Last Updated: May 20, 2025 at 06:34

Main Characters – Hotel (2003)

Meet the key characters of Hotel (2003), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle)

Paul is a resourceful and compassionate hotel manager who risks everything to protect Tutsi refugees during the genocide. As a Hutu married to a Tutsi, he navigates a complex identity while showcasing immense courage to confront overwhelming threats. His character epitomizes resilience and moral conviction amidst chaos.

🏨 Hotel Manager 🛡️ Protector

Tatiana Rusesabagina (Sophie Okonedo)

Tatiana is Paul's strong and supportive wife, embodying resilience and maternal love in the face of danger. She shares Paul's commitment to safeguarding their family and Tutsi neighbors, demonstrating unwavering bravery in a perilous situation. Her character highlights the personal stakes involved in the larger humanitarian crisis.

👩‍👧‍👦 Mother ❤️ Supportive Partner

Last Updated: May 20, 2025 at 06:34

Major Themes – Hotel (2003)

Explore the central themes of Hotel (2003), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🕊️ Survival

The theme of survival is central to the movie, encapsulating the desperate measures taken by individuals to save themselves and others during the genocide. Paul Rusesabagina's resourcefulness and bravery exemplify the fight for life against overwhelming odds. The hotel serves as a sanctuary, highlighting the will to protect and preserve life amidst horror.

🤝 Humanity

Humanity emerges in stark contrast to the brutality surrounding it, as characters demonstrate compassion and courage in the face of evil. Paul's efforts to safeguard Tutsi refugees reveal the intrinsic goodness that can thrive even in the darkest times. The relationships formed within the hotel, transcending ethnic divides, spotlight the spirit of solidarity and love.

Last Updated: May 20, 2025 at 06:34

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about survival during genocide like in Hotel

Characters fight for their lives amid overwhelming societal collapse and violence.If you were gripped by the intense survival story in Hotel, explore more movies like it. This collection features high-stakes dramas and thrillers set during real-world humanitarian crises and genocides, where characters face impossible moral choices and relentless danger.

desperategrippinghorrifyingtraumaticperilousclaustrophobicanxious

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread are typically linear and straightforward, focusing on a clear, escalating threat. The protagonist's journey is one of desperate action, protecting loved ones or a group from an overwhelming, often state-sanctioned, force. The plot is driven by a sequence of narrow escapes, tense negotiations, and acts of resilience against a backdrop of widespread violence.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped together by their shared setting of real-world human catastrophes, their high-intensity pacing, and their heavy emotional weight. They create a similar viewing experience of claustrophobic dread, moral urgency, and a focus on the human cost of political and ethnic violence.

Movies with bittersweet endings after heavy trauma like in Hotel

Stories where survival comes at a profound and lasting emotional cost.For viewers who appreciated the emotionally complex conclusion of Hotel, this list curates similar movies with bittersweet endings. These films follow characters through heavy, traumatic journeys, resulting in an ending that mixes survival with a deep sense of loss and sorrow.

traumaticheartbreakingresilientsolemnpoignantgrievinghopeful yet sad

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows a character or group through a harrowing ordeal that results in massive personal or collective loss. The climax involves a narrow escape or survival, but the resolution acknowledges that the trauma is permanent. The ending feels bittersweet because life continues, but it is forever altered by unspeakable grief and memory.

Why These Movies?

These movies share a specific emotional arc: they subject their characters to extreme hardship and conclude with a tone that is neither purely tragic nor triumphantly happy. They are united by their heavy emotional weight and their focus on the long-term psychological impact of survival, creating a deeply resonant and contemplative feeling.

Unlock the Full Story of Hotel

Don't stop at just watching — explore Hotel in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Hotel is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Hotel Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Hotel, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Hotel Summary

Hotel Timeline

Track the full timeline of Hotel with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Hotel Timeline

Hotel Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Hotel that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Hotel Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Hotel

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Hotel: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Hotel

Similar Movies to Hotel

Discover movies like Hotel that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.