Hotel Rwanda - Ending Explained

The film builds tension as the UN withdraws foreign nationals, leaving the Rwandans behind. Paul manages to keep the militia at bay through desperate bribes and bluffing. The Twist/Climax: When they attempt to evacuate by truck, they are ambushed and must return. Eventually, Paul blackmails General Bizimungu by threatening that he will be tried as a war criminal if he doesn't help. The General finally intervenes to stop the militia assault. The refugees are escorted to a UN camp behind rebel lines. The film ends with them reaching safety, but the text epilogue reminds us of the massive death toll (nearly 1 million) that occurred outside the hotel walls.

The Hero vs. The Opportunist: While the film presents Paul as an altruistic hero, an alternative reading—fueled by later real-life allegations—suggests a more cynical interpretation where Paul was a businessman who charged refugees for rooms and protected them primarily to maintain his own status and safety. The film can thus be viewed either as a straightforward hagiography or, inadvertently, as a portrait of how capitalism and corruption were the only languages the militia understood.