Hotel

In 1994, the brutal conflict between the Hutu and Tutsi ethnic groups escalates, leading to the murder of nearly one million Tutsi individuals. This violence is fueled by historical land ownership disputes and long-standing ethnic tensions.

As violence erupts, approximately 1,000 Tutsi refugees seek safety in the luxury hotel Mille Collines, owned by Sabena Airlines. Paul Rusesabagina, the hotel's manager, takes on the responsibility of protecting these refugees from Hutu soldiers.

After returning home, Paul witnesses the shocking sight of an innocent neighbor being dragged off by Hutu soldiers. This moment solidifies the immediate danger his family and community face amid the escalating violence.

The next evening, Hutu soldiers begin to burn Tutsi houses and murder individuals in the streets. Paul returns home to find his wife Tatiana hiding Tutsi neighbors in secret, highlighting the peril that has engulfed their lives.

When Hutu soldiers force Paul to accompany them to the hotel for money and alcohol, he cleverly negotiates to take the refugees with him under the guise of being his family. Paul manages to buy their lives using cash and jewelry.

Colonel Oliver, a UN official, and Pat Archer, a Red Cross worker, bring more refugees to the hotel and create a semblance of security. However, the international community largely ignores the genocide occurring in Rwanda.

As provisions dwindle in the hotel, Paul and his colleague Gregoire venture to a Hutu base to buy supplies. Faced with the grim reality of ongoing murders and threats, they begin to feel the hopelessness of their situation.

One morning, a Hutu lieutenant threatens to remove all refugees from the hotel. However, Paul's urgent appeal to the president of Sabena Airlines results in a timely intervention from Belgian troops, saving the lives of those inside.

Pat Archer returns with supplies but finds that the entire section of the city is devastated, including the whereabouts of Paul’s brother-in-law's family. Her grim updates leave Paul with a haunting uncertainty about their fate.

As the chaos intensifies, Paul arranges for his family to flee Rwanda while remaining behind. He faces heartbreak when his wife and children are initially unable to leave due to dangerous circumstances on the road.

During their escape, an ambush by Hutu soldiers threatens Paul's family. UN forces struggle to fend them off while Paul’s family attempts to insure their survival amidst chaos at the checkpoints.

Upon reaching safety at the refugee camp, Paul and Tatiana desperately search for news of their relatives. The couple is consumed by uncertainty as they inquire about Tatiana's family amidst thousands of displaced persons.

As their bus is about to depart, Pat arrives, saving the family from separation. After a tense moment, they manage to include their nieces and additional orphaned children, demonstrating the bonds formed in the face of tragedy.

After the harrowing events, Paul, Tatiana, and their children settle in Belgium. Although they escaped survival, the implications of the genocide linger as they build a new life, haunted by memories of those lost.

In the years that follow, key figures involved in the Rwandan Genocide are held accountable. General Bizimungo, who profited from the genocide, is arrested for war crimes in 2002, serving as a reminder of the atrocities committed.