History YMMV / HotelRwanda

*** However, the current Rwandan government under President Paul Kagame (who as of 2024 has been in power for over two decades) is notoriously corrupt and repressive, and Rusesabagina was known to be critical of him.

----

* AbilityOverAppearance: The lean Creator/DonCheadle doesn't at all resemble the heavier, round-faced Paul Rusesabagina, but his performance won wide praise, including from Rusesabagina himself.

* HarsherInHindsight: Though the film portrays Paul Rusesabagina in a heroic light, survivors of the Rwandan Genocide have alleged that not only did he extort money from refugees for their rooms and food, he also gave a Rwandan Army commander a list of guests (though it should be noted that there are survivors who dispute this).

* HarsherInHindsight: Though the film portrays Paul Rusesabagina in a heroic light, survivors of the Rwandan Genocide have alleged that not only did he extort money from refugees for their rooms and food, he also gave a Rwandan Army commander a list of guests.

* SomeAnvilsNeedToBeDropped: The genocide depicted in the film speaks for itself.

* CompleteMonster: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Rutaganda Georges Rutaganda]] is at first a man of the Hutu tribe pushing for extreme measures against the Tutsi tribe, openly calling for their persecution and even [[FinalSolution genocide]]. When the [[UsefulNotes/{{Rwanda}} genocide against the Tutsi]] kicks off, Rutaganda does more than just talk. Allying himself with the Hutu forces, Rutaganda participates in the genocide and is seen running a prison camp where the Tutsi innocents will be exterminated, even keeping several women as {{sex slave}}s. Rutaganda also offers to give Paul Rusesabagina some Tutsis as sex slaves, if Rusesabagina allows him to slaughter all the Tutsis at the hotel. When Rusesabagina refuses, Rutaganda advises to take the River Road back to the hotel, saying it's clear. When Rusesabagina drives over the road, he finds it is littered with the bodies of dead Tutsis. When told he cannot possibly exterminate the Tutsi people, Rutaganda merely asks why not, stating "we are halfway there already."

* CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming: Paul and Tatiana finding their two young nieces in the refugee camp at the end.
* CrowningMusicOfAwesome: The entire score, but the piece played as the foreigners are evacuated from the hotel, the orphan children arrive and are separated from the nuns and priests who have been caring for them, and the despondent foreigners look back on the Rwandans who must stay behind to await an unknown fate, is utterly haunting.

* CompleteMonster: [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georges_Rutaganda Georges Rutaganda]] is at first a man of the Hutu tribe pushing for extreme measures against the Tutsi tribe, openly calling for extreme measures and even [[FinalSolution genocide]]. When the [[UsefulNotes/{{Rwanda}} genocide against the Tutsi]] kicks off, Rutaganda does more than just talk. Allying himself with the Hutu forces, Rutaganda participates in the genocide and is seen running a prison camp where the Tutsi innocents will be exterminated, even keeping several women as {{sex slave}}s. Rutaganda also offers to give Paul Rusesabagina some Tutsis as sex slaves, if Rusesabagina allows him to slaughter all the Tutsis at the hotel. When Rusesabagina refuses, Rutaganda advises to take the River Road back to the hotel, saying it's clear. When Rusesabagina drives over the road, he finds it is littered with the bodies of dead Tutsis. When told he cannot possibly exterminate the Tutsi people, Rutaganda merely asks why not, stating "we are halfway there already."

* NightmareFuel:
** The fact that this is a movie about a genocide that actually happened speaks for itself, but special mention goes to the scene where [[spoiler:Paul finds that the bumpy road he was driving on was actually bumpy because it was covered in corpses.]]
** The pure, virulent hate being spewed by the Hutu Power radio station throughout the movie. A horrifying example of TruthInTelevision.
-->'''George Rutaganda''': ''"Cut the tall trees. Cut the tall trees now!"''
** The fact that the UN ''does nothing to stop it''... and that it's TruthInTelevision.
** The fact that the violence you see throughout the film is actually ''downplayed'' according to the real Paul Rusesabagina speaks volumes of what the real thing was.
** The movie's opening is happy and optimistic. Then when Paul goes to Rutaganda's warehouse one of the worksmen accidentaly drops a box who reveals hundred of machetes inside. The music in the background suddenly turns sinister and Paul and his driver look worried and scared. On the contrary Rutaganda proudly tells Pul that he bought the machetes from China for a good price. Now considering how the machetes will be used next...

** The movie's opening is happy and optimist. Then when Paul goes to Rutaganda's warehouse one of the worksmen accidentaly drops a box who reveals hundred of machetes inside. The music in the background suddenly turns sinister and Paul and his driver look worried and scared. On the contrary Rutaganda proudly tells Pul that he bought the machetes from China for a good price. Now considering how the machetes will be used next...

* CompleteMonster: Georges Rutaganda is at first a man of the Hutu tribe pushing for extreme measures against the Tutsi tribe, openly calling for extreme measures and even [[FinalSolution genocide]]. When the [[UsefulNotes/{{Rwanda}} genocide against the Tutsi]] kicks off, Rutaganda does more than just talk. Allying himself with the Hutu forces, Rutaganda participates in the genocide and is seen running a prison camp where the Tutsi innocents will be exterminated, even keeping several women as {{sex slave}}s. Rutaganda also offers to give Paul Rusesabagina some Tutsis as sex slaves, if Rusesabagina allows him to slaughter all the Tutsis at the hotel. When Rusesabagina refuses, Rutaganda advises to take the River Road back to the hotel, saying it's clear. When Rusesabagina drives over the road, he finds it is littered with the bodies of dead Tutsis. When told he cannot possibly exterminate the Tutsi people, Rutaganda merely asks why not, stating "we are halfway there already."

* NightmareFuel: The fact that this is a movie about a genocide that actually happened speaks for itself, but special mention goes to the scene where [[spoiler:Paul finds that the bumpy road he was driving on was actually bumpy because it was covered in corpses.]]