Scribd
Upload
44 views2 pages

Paul Rusesabagina's Hero Journey Analysis

This document provides guiding questions for viewing the film Hotel Rwanda and analyzing the main character Paul Rusesabagina's journey. It asks the viewer to identify the stages of Paul's "Hero's Journey" as depicted in the film, including his life in the ordinary world pre-crisis, the call to action, his initial refusal to act, when he begins to take action, any supernatural aid he receives, his dark moments, challenges faced, encounters with powerful figures, his transformation, times he refuses to return to his past life, his ultimate achievement, and assistance required to get to freedom. The document then provides a series of questions for the viewer to consider and answer as they watch the film.

Uploaded by

Allen Ma
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
44 views2 pages

Paul Rusesabagina's Hero Journey Analysis

This document provides guiding questions for viewing the film Hotel Rwanda and analyzing the main character Paul Rusesabagina's journey. It asks the viewer to identify the stages of Paul's "Hero's Journey" as depicted in the film, including his life in the ordinary world pre-crisis, the call to action, his initial refusal to act, when he begins to take action, any supernatural aid he receives, his dark moments, challenges faced, encounters with powerful figures, his transformation, times he refuses to return to his past life, his ultimate achievement, and assistance required to get to freedom. The document then provides a series of questions for the viewer to consider and answer as they watch the film.

Uploaded by

Allen Ma
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Hotel Rwanda and The Hero’s Journey

As you view the film, consider Paul Rusesabagina as a hero. How does he develop over the course of his
experience? Identify the stages of his Hero’s Journey as he reaches them, and explain how
events/experiences/encounters fit specific stages of the journey.

Introduction in the Ordinary World (What is Paul’s life and attitude before the crisis?):

Call to Action (What is the first incident that calls Paul’s attention to a need for action?):

Refusal of the Call (How and why does Paul refuse to act early on?):

Crossing the First Threshold (When does Paul first begin to take action or enter a “new world”?):

“Supernatural” Aid (Who or what is Paul’s guide?):

Belly of the Whale (What might be classified as a very dark moment, in which Paul must realize that he is
now completely separated from the life he’s had?):

Road of Trials (What challenges/trials/triumphs does Paul encounter along his journey?):

Meeting with the Goddess OR Atonement with the Father (At what point does Paul encounter a powerful
figure who makes him face a painful or difficult truth?):

Apotheosis (At what point has Paul fully transformed and how?):

Refusal of the Return (When does Paul refuse an opportunity to leave his situation and return to his life?):

Ultimate Boon (What is Paul’s ultimate achievement?):

Rescue from Without/Magic Flight (What assistance does Paul require to get out?):

Master of Two Worlds/Freedom to Live (At what point is Paul free?):


Hotel Rwanda Guided Viewing
Respond to the following questions as you view the film.

1. How does the film begin? How does this particular technique establish the setting?

2. What kind of person does Paul initially appear to be?

3. Explain the conversation at the hotel bar. Does this strike you as odd or problematic? What might it
foreshadow?

4. What event seems to precipitate the genocide? How is this political, historical context handled by the
film?

5. What does the Hutu soldier order Paul to do? Do you find this scene credible?

6. Why does the UN colonel refuse to take action or to take the Tutsi refugees?

7. What are Paul’s initial expectations for a Western response to Rwanda’s crisis?

8. Why does the UN withdraw its forces and the non-Rwandan inhabitants?

9. How is Paul able to prevent the Hutu soldier from taking over the hotel?

10. What does Paul advise the refugees at the hotel to do?

11. What kind of relationship does Paul have with General Bizimungu? What does this suggest?

12. Who is George Rutaganda? How does he respond to Paul’s questions about the Hutus’ plans?

13. On the drive back from his meeting with George, what does Paul encounter? How is this filmed?
What scene(s) directly follow this one? Why?

14. What does the RTLM say about those who help “cockroaches”?

15. What happens to the convoy of Rwandas who have visas to leave? What internal conflict do we
witness here?

16. How is Paul able to bribe General Bizimungu into helping him?

17. Using at least two scenes as examples, comment of specific cinematographic techniques used to capture
the effects of the genocide (violence, fear, horror, despair, etc.).

18. Explain at least three parallels between the Rwandan genocide and the Holocaust.

19. Explain at least three parallels between Paul Rusesabagina and Oskar Schindler.

You might also like