Hotel Rwanda, Dir. Terry George

Everywhere on this planet, there are various incidents of the past, where we have made distinctions of our country people based on religion, caste, status, colors of skin, etc.

SO WHO STARTED THIS DISTINCTION?

Of course, we humans, but we made distinctions of ourselves based on the remarks of the people whom we consider so called, superior to "us"

Let me be clear with this "us" factor.

Hotel Rwanda

The film "Hotel Rwanda" is based on a true incident of genocide that took place in the land locked country of Rwanda between the two tribes- Hutu & Tutsis in the year 1994.

Map of Rwanda

This incident went almost unnoticed by the rest of the world. This film was made after 10 years, that portrays the real truth of hatred and it makes me do some research on GOOGLE about the place & the history. Since it involves the first world as well as third world countries, so "us" factor is very controversial here. if I say, I want to specify only "Blacks" & "Dark skinned people" as "us" then I am still on the road of hatred based on racial discrimination.

During the year of 1994, the murder in the plane crash of the President of the African state of Rwanda was used as an excuse for the country's majority ethnic group, the Hutus, to launch a genocide massacre of their hatred rivals, the Tutsis. This hatred started since 1962, when Rwanda got independence from the colonial rulers of Belgium.  Before leaving the country, they operated a divide & rule policy by giving preference to the Tutsi minority based on their facial sharp structures & less darkened skin colors in matters of employment and education. Just like the British did before departing from India in the year 1947.

The movie concentrates on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina (played by american actor Don Cheadle), a well educated Hutu, with a Tutsi wife Tatiana (played by british actress Sophie Okonedo) and three small children. He is the manager of Kigali's( Rwanda's capital) luxurious 4 star Hotel des Mille Collines, owned by Sabena airlines.

Paul didn't have any idea, what he is capable of before the outburst of genocide. He used to believe one thing for his job ("I was told never to lower the tone of the hotel") & his wife and children ("Family is all that matters"). Gradually, Paul is seen to grow as a man to save the lives of 1268 Tutsi and Hutu refugees by giving them shelter into the hotel and taking big risks like bribing, lying & threatening to the soldiers without giving up any hope.

When no help is forthcoming from the western powers & black people are left  to their fates, Paul realizes which side he is on & his remarks " How can I not intervene?" reflects the true mankind of helping each other without even thinking about any difference, that he has learned to achieve during the genocide where 500000 innocent people lost their lives.

The film with its impressive cinematography & overwhelming performance by the actors, creates a bonding with the audience to feel the pain of the helpless people during that period. The soundtrack of the movie completes the circle after watching the film with its wonderful lyrics....

মাটির ময়না (The Clay Bird), Dir. Tareque Masud

আমার সোনার বাংলা,

আমি তোমায় ভালবাসি।

চিরদিন তোমার আকাশ,

তোমার বাতাস

আমার প্রাণে বাজায় বাঁশি।

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVjbVPFeo2o

This song is written by the poet Rabindranath Tagore in the year 1905 following the Partition of Bengal by the then viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. The first 10 lines of this song later constitute the national anthem of Bangladesh just after the "Bangladesh Liberation war" in the year 1971.

THE CLAY BIRD

This film is set during the pre-liberation war just before the birth of "Bangladesh". It's about a conservative muslim family, where life seems to be moving on a regular routine but the political situation of the country (East Pakistan then called) brings a lot of tension along with disaster in the end.

The young protagonist character Anwar (Nurul Islam bablu) was sent to Madrasha (Islamic religious boarding school) by his religious father Kazi (Jayanto Chattopadhyay). In fact it reflects the director's own experience in Madrasha school during the period of Bangladesh Liberation war. Kazi is a homeopathic pharmacist & according to him " ALLOPATHY IS THE TREATMENT OF DISEASE WHERE AS HOMEOPATHY IS THE TREATMENT OF PATIENT".

Kazi's brother Milon (Soaeb Islam) is a true Marxist supporter and their mentalities don't match though their ideologies like both Homeopathy & Marxology came from the same path i.e. Germany.

The film portrays various historical incidents of that era through human experience of the young protagonist character. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes his family with sudden death of his sister due to his father's (Kazi') refusal to use Western antibiotics, and a terrifying attack by the Pakistani troops on their village to prevent Bangladeshi Independence. "The Clay Bird" deeply reminds Satyajit Ray's childhood epic of rural India "Pather Panchali" to show the nature through simple observation of a child.

Because of the political turmoil, people in general were confused between religion & politics at that time. Some people like Kazi were supporting Pakistan because they were unable to accept the reality of brutal killings of their Islamic brothers from West Pakistan. But at last it raises question of mixing up Political and extreme religious views. 

The literary translation of this song of the movie means " Our mind is like a bird which is imprisoned inside the cage made up of human body". The music of this film represents the folk culture as well as baul. Words are very impressive and can make anyone feel free.