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细数一下，好莱坞的非洲题材电影虽然产量不高，但每年总有几部口碑不错的大片面世。近几年，非洲题材的电影更是纷纷亮相奥斯卡，而且屡获佳绩。
2007年，《末代独裁》、《血钻》这两部非洲题材的电影成功入围了第79届奥斯卡金像奖，最终《末代独裁》里的福里斯特·惠特克成功摘取了今年奥斯卡最佳男主角的桂冠。
有些影评人指出，动荡、内战、杀戮等内容一直是好莱坞的“票房灵药”，而非洲题材的电影正好满足了这一需求，所以摆脱不了好莱坞的老套。
但暂且不论非洲题材的电影是否是好莱坞商业游戏的新筹码，我想每一部优秀成功的电影都有值得欣赏的亮点，更何况是奥斯卡钟情的非洲电影呢？
——Tracy
Africa breaks your heart—that’s the simplest and most persistent emotion that bursts out of such recent films as The Last King of Scotland, Blood Diamond, The Constant Gardener, and Hotel Rwanda. These best and most enjoyable of this cycle of movies, set against the background of civil wars, 1)ethnic conflict, and Western 2)meddling and 3)exploitation. Such exciting and stunning adventure stories with politics in the background now seem to find favor with the 4)Academy.
非洲令人心碎——这种最单纯而又持久的感觉充斥着近年上映的几部电影，如《末代独裁》、《血钻》、《不朽的园丁》以及《卢旺达饭店》。在同类题材的电影中，这几部是最具欣赏价值的顶尖之作。这些故事情节围绕着内战、种族冲突、西方强权的干预及剥削利用而展开。惊心动魄、精彩绝伦的故事在政治背景下的大舞台上演出，这样的影片近几年来似乎颇受奥斯卡金像奖的青睐。
The Last King of Scotland
Starring:Forest Whitaker,
James McAvoy
Director:Kevin Macdonald
Academy Awards & Nominations:Oscar, Best Actor,2007
A Scottish doctor on a Ugandan medical mission becomes 5)irreversibly entangled with one of the world’s most 6)barbaric figures: Idi Amin. Impressed by Dr. Garrigan’s 7)brazen attitude in a moment of crisis, the newly self-appointed Ugandan President Amin hand picks him as his personal physician and closest 8)confidante. Though Garrigan is at first flattered and fascinated by his new position, he soon awakens to Amin’s savagery—and to his own 9)complicity in it. Horror and betrayal ensue as Garrigan tries to right his wrongs and escape Uganda alive.
This film is about the lure of power, a universal condemnation of all dictators and their 10)protégés. All the while, it remains 11)spellbinding entertainment, filled with unexpected moments of 12)levity, that almost make you feel guilty laughing at the 13)antics of a tyrant. Director Kevin Macdonald, whose previous experience was limited to documentaries, skillfully brings the “Last King” to life, bathing the landscape in 14)pastels, capturing the 15)joviality of Ugandan people in the face of the hardships unendurable.
When clips of the real Amin are shown at the end, it’s almost shocking to realize the extent to which Forest Whitaker has become him. As for his unforgettable performance, the new Oscar Best Actor says: “I kept trying to find all of his emotions and feeling inside myself.”
《末代独裁》
主演： 福里斯特·惠特克
詹姆斯·麦艾维
导演： 凯文·麦唐纳
奥斯卡奖项及提名： 2007年度奥斯卡最佳男主角（福里斯特·惠特克）
故事讲述苏格兰医生哥瑞肯被派往乌干达进行医疗救援服务，从此他的命运无可挽回地和野蛮无比的暴君——乌干达总统安迪·艾明纠缠不清起来。这位武装夺权自封元首的乌干达总统艾明无意中看到哥瑞肯医生临危不乱的一面，甚为欣赏，于是亲自点名要他做自己的私人医生，并视之为亲信。一开始，哥瑞肯医生还满心欢喜，沉醉于自己的新职位，但很快，他发现了艾明总统凶残的真面目，也意识到原来自己一直在助纣为虐。之后他与极权抗衡，设法弥补过失，逃离乌干达，其间夹杂着恐怖与背叛。
影片讲的是权力的诱惑，是对所有独裁者及其帮凶的谴责。尽管如此，这部电影还是娱乐性十足，并不期然地穿插着轻松逗笑的情境。本来这么严肃的题材是会让人感到内疚的，但暴君的怪异举止却实在让人忍俊不禁。之前只拍过记录片的导演凯文·麦唐纳这次巧妙地让这位“末代独裁者”活现于观众面前，同时以柔美的笔触呈现非洲的丰姿，表现出乌干达人民面对难以忍受的艰辛时仍持有乐观积极的态度。
影片最后有艾明总统的真人记录片断，观众会惊讶地发现福里斯特·惠特克的演绎原来如此入木三分。对于自己的令人难忘的演出，这位新出炉影帝说：“我一直在自己内心挖掘他的情感，努力感同身受。”
Blood Diamond
Starring:Leonardo DiCaprio,
Djimon Hounsou,
Jennifer Connelly
Director:Edward Zwick
Academy Awards & Nominations:Nomination, Best Actor,2007
Nomination, Best
Supporting Actor 2007
Set against the backdrop of chaos and civil war in 1990’ 16)Sierra Leone, Danny Archer, a South African 17)mercenary, and Solomon Vandy, a Mende fisherman are joined in a common quest to recover a rare pink diamond, that can transform their lives. While in prison for smuggling, Archer learns that Solomon, who had been taken away from his family and forced to work in the diamond fields, has found and hidden the extraordinary rough stone. With the help of Maddy Bowen, an American journalist, the two men embark on a trek through rebel territory to recover the diamond.
You may sense that this tale is vaguely 18)derivative—there are elements of Casablanca, The Defiant Ones, and Under Fire—but you can enjoy what’s 19)synthetic and movieish in Blood Diamond without finding the film any less stirring as a portrait of Africa in chaos.
Zwick has 20)jettisoned the noble 21)clichés of Glory, the grandstanding of The Siege, the embarrassing solemn antics of The Last 22)Samurai. His work is serious there, pulling back from the obvious, digging deeper into Africa’s 23)psyche. Leonardo DiCaprio, who has earned two previous Oscar nominations was also nominated for Best Actor this year for the role of Danny Archer in Blood Diamond.
《血钻》
主演： 莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥
吉蒙·休斯
詹妮弗·康奈利
导演： 爱德华·瑞克
奥斯卡奖项及提名： 2007年度奥斯卡最佳男主角提名（莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥）
2007年度奥斯卡最佳男配角提名（吉蒙·休斯）
故事发生在20世纪90年代内战混乱无序的塞拉利昂，因为追寻一颗珍贵的粉红钻石的下落，来自南非的雇佣兵丹尼·阿彻尔和当地门德族渔民所罗门·梵迪走到一起，如果得到这颗钻石，他们的生活将彻底改变。阿彻尔因走私而入狱，在狱中他得知被迫离家并在钻石矿场工作的所罗门已经找到并藏起了那块珍宝。在一位美国记者麦迪·宝文的帮助下，两人开始穿越战乱的领地追索宝钻。
你可能会觉得这个情节似曾相识，有点《北非谍影》、《逃狱惊魂》以及《战火下》的影子，但因为影片对动荡战乱的非洲描画细腻，你在享受大杂烩电影桥段的同时，仍能感受到相当的新鲜震撼。
导演瑞克抛开了《光荣战役》中宣扬崇高精神的老调，也舍弃了《地牢围攻》式的哗众取宠和《最后的武士》里面那尴尬的肃穆怪异。《血钻》是他的认真之作，没有停留在表面，只是深入表现非洲的灵魂。之前已经两度荣获奥斯卡提名的莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥凭着《血钻》里面丹尼·阿彻尔这一角色今年再获最佳男主角的提名。
The Constant Gardener
Starring:Ralph Fiennes,
Rachel Weisz
Director:Fernando Meirelles
Academy Awards & Nominations:Oscar, Best Actress, 2006
In a remote area of Northern Kenya, the region’s most dedicated activist, the brilliant and passionate Tessa Quayle, has been found brutally murdered. The evidence points to a crime of passion. Haunted by 24)remorse, and 25)jarred by rumors of his wife’s 26)infidelities, Justin Quayle, Tessa’ mild-mannered and unambitious 27)widower, surprises himself by plunging headlong into a dangerous odyssey to clear his wife’s name and “finish what she started.” Justin embarks on a crash course to learn about the 28)pharmaceutical industry, whose crimes Tessa was on the verge of uncovering, and journeys across two continents in search of the truth.
Set mostly in Africa, directed by a Brazilian, starring two Brits and financed by an American studio, The Constant Gardener is a truly multicultural film. This is not a thriller designed for the crowd that prefers shoot-outs, chases, and other action-packed incidents. The Constant Gardener is talky and intelligent, and never takes the cheap way out. It’s also something of a 29)downer, both in terms of how the main characters are handled and in its 30)cynical attitude toward the pharmaceutical industry. Yes, there’s also a love story here, but the most powerful aspect of the movie is what it has to say about the problems in Africa.
《不朽的园丁》
主演： 拉尔夫·费因斯
蕾切尔·薇兹
导演： 费南多·梅利勒斯
奥斯卡奖项及提名： 2006年度奥斯卡最佳女主角（蕾切尔·薇兹）
故事发生在肯尼亚北部一个偏远地区，聪明、热情的泰莎·奎伊是该地区最积极的政治活动家，她被残酷地谋杀了，证据显示是情杀。她的丈夫贾斯汀懊恼不已，妻子不忠的流言令他很震惊。平时温和淡泊的他出人意表地踏上险阻重重的征途，为了还妻子一个清白，并“完成她未尽的事业”。之前泰莎在调查制药业的罪行，当真相快要被揭露时却遇害了，于是贾斯汀挑战学习有关制药业的相关知识，穿越两大洲找寻事实的真相。
《不朽的园丁》大部分在非洲取景，由巴西人执导，两位主角是英国人，由美国的电影制作公司投资，这部电影可谓是真正的多元文化融合的结晶。《不朽的园丁》不是为爱看火爆枪战、飞车追逐或者其他打斗场面的观众而拍的惊悚片。这部电影有很多对白，充满智慧，而且从不俗气老套。同时影片也多少有点悲观，从它对两位主角的刻画和对制药业的怀疑态度可以看出。不错，片中也有爱情故事，但最具震撼力的还是它对非洲问题的揭示。
Hotel Rwanda
Starring:Don Cheadle,
Sophie Okonedo
Director:Terry George
Academy Awards & Nominations:Nomination, Best
Actor, 2005
Nomination, Best
Supporting Actress, 2005
Nomination, Original
Screenplay, 2005
As the country of Rwanda descends into madness, one man has resolved to protect the family he loves, and ends up finding the courage to save over 1,200 people. Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager in Rwanda, secretly uses his position and intelligence to shelter over a thousand refugees during the 31)genocide crisis. With the rest of the world watching by the 32)sidelines, Paul begins a voyage that would ultimately prove the unimaginable strength of human spirit.
Hotel Rwanda has been repeatedly compared to Schindler’s List. Yet Schindler’s List is an artistic rendering of a tragedy, whereas writer and director Terry George dreads for dramatic realism and delivers a riveting drama.
Hotel Rwanda works not because of a screen filled with superficial special effects, spectacular action or vast digital armies, but because the filmmakers’ interest in the choices or ordinary men confronted with extraordinary circumstances.
《卢旺达饭店》
主演： 唐·钱德尔
索菲·奥康尼多
导演： 特里·乔治
奥斯卡奖项及提名： 2005年度奥斯卡最佳男主角提名（唐·钱德尔）
2005年度奥斯卡最佳女配角提名（索菲·奥康尼多）
2005年度奥斯卡最佳原创剧本提名
当卢旺达陷入疯狂的种族屠戮时，有一个人决心要保护他心爱的家人，而最后他更鼓足勇气拯救了1200多人的生命。保罗·鲁塞萨巴吉纳是卢旺达一家酒店的经理，他秘密利用职权，机智地保护了1000多个难民，使他们免遭种族屠戮的毒手。当世界上其它地区的人们还在袖手旁观时，保罗已经开始了他的计划，最终显示出难以想象的人性力量。
常有人将《卢旺达饭店》跟《辛德勒的名单》相提并论。但《辛德勒的名单》是对一场悲剧的艺术演绎，而《卢旺达饭店》的编剧兼导演特里·乔治厌恶写实化的戏剧，他为观众带来的是扣人心弦的剧情片。
《卢旺达饭店》之所以成功不是因为画面充斥着那些肤浅的特技效果，壮观的动作场面，更不是因为用数码特效做出来的千军万马，而在于影片制作人悉心探讨的主题——常人在非常时期所做的抉择。
2007年，《末代独裁》、《血钻》这两部非洲题材的电影成功入围了第79届奥斯卡金像奖，最终《末代独裁》里的福里斯特·惠特克成功摘取了今年奥斯卡最佳男主角的桂冠。
有些影评人指出，动荡、内战、杀戮等内容一直是好莱坞的“票房灵药”，而非洲题材的电影正好满足了这一需求，所以摆脱不了好莱坞的老套。
但暂且不论非洲题材的电影是否是好莱坞商业游戏的新筹码，我想每一部优秀成功的电影都有值得欣赏的亮点，更何况是奥斯卡钟情的非洲电影呢？
——Tracy
Africa breaks your heart—that’s the simplest and most persistent emotion that bursts out of such recent films as The Last King of Scotland, Blood Diamond, The Constant Gardener, and Hotel Rwanda. These best and most enjoyable of this cycle of movies, set against the background of civil wars, 1)ethnic conflict, and Western 2)meddling and 3)exploitation. Such exciting and stunning adventure stories with politics in the background now seem to find favor with the 4)Academy.
非洲令人心碎——这种最单纯而又持久的感觉充斥着近年上映的几部电影，如《末代独裁》、《血钻》、《不朽的园丁》以及《卢旺达饭店》。在同类题材的电影中，这几部是最具欣赏价值的顶尖之作。这些故事情节围绕着内战、种族冲突、西方强权的干预及剥削利用而展开。惊心动魄、精彩绝伦的故事在政治背景下的大舞台上演出，这样的影片近几年来似乎颇受奥斯卡金像奖的青睐。
The Last King of Scotland
Starring:Forest Whitaker,
James McAvoy
Director:Kevin Macdonald
Academy Awards & Nominations:Oscar, Best Actor,2007
A Scottish doctor on a Ugandan medical mission becomes 5)irreversibly entangled with one of the world’s most 6)barbaric figures: Idi Amin. Impressed by Dr. Garrigan’s 7)brazen attitude in a moment of crisis, the newly self-appointed Ugandan President Amin hand picks him as his personal physician and closest 8)confidante. Though Garrigan is at first flattered and fascinated by his new position, he soon awakens to Amin’s savagery—and to his own 9)complicity in it. Horror and betrayal ensue as Garrigan tries to right his wrongs and escape Uganda alive.
This film is about the lure of power, a universal condemnation of all dictators and their 10)protégés. All the while, it remains 11)spellbinding entertainment, filled with unexpected moments of 12)levity, that almost make you feel guilty laughing at the 13)antics of a tyrant. Director Kevin Macdonald, whose previous experience was limited to documentaries, skillfully brings the “Last King” to life, bathing the landscape in 14)pastels, capturing the 15)joviality of Ugandan people in the face of the hardships unendurable.
When clips of the real Amin are shown at the end, it’s almost shocking to realize the extent to which Forest Whitaker has become him. As for his unforgettable performance, the new Oscar Best Actor says: “I kept trying to find all of his emotions and feeling inside myself.”
《末代独裁》
主演： 福里斯特·惠特克
詹姆斯·麦艾维
导演： 凯文·麦唐纳
奥斯卡奖项及提名： 2007年度奥斯卡最佳男主角（福里斯特·惠特克）
故事讲述苏格兰医生哥瑞肯被派往乌干达进行医疗救援服务，从此他的命运无可挽回地和野蛮无比的暴君——乌干达总统安迪·艾明纠缠不清起来。这位武装夺权自封元首的乌干达总统艾明无意中看到哥瑞肯医生临危不乱的一面，甚为欣赏，于是亲自点名要他做自己的私人医生，并视之为亲信。一开始，哥瑞肯医生还满心欢喜，沉醉于自己的新职位，但很快，他发现了艾明总统凶残的真面目，也意识到原来自己一直在助纣为虐。之后他与极权抗衡，设法弥补过失，逃离乌干达，其间夹杂着恐怖与背叛。
影片讲的是权力的诱惑，是对所有独裁者及其帮凶的谴责。尽管如此，这部电影还是娱乐性十足，并不期然地穿插着轻松逗笑的情境。本来这么严肃的题材是会让人感到内疚的，但暴君的怪异举止却实在让人忍俊不禁。之前只拍过记录片的导演凯文·麦唐纳这次巧妙地让这位“末代独裁者”活现于观众面前，同时以柔美的笔触呈现非洲的丰姿，表现出乌干达人民面对难以忍受的艰辛时仍持有乐观积极的态度。
影片最后有艾明总统的真人记录片断，观众会惊讶地发现福里斯特·惠特克的演绎原来如此入木三分。对于自己的令人难忘的演出，这位新出炉影帝说：“我一直在自己内心挖掘他的情感，努力感同身受。”
Blood Diamond
Starring:Leonardo DiCaprio,
Djimon Hounsou,
Jennifer Connelly
Director:Edward Zwick
Academy Awards & Nominations:Nomination, Best Actor,2007
Nomination, Best
Supporting Actor 2007
Set against the backdrop of chaos and civil war in 1990’ 16)Sierra Leone, Danny Archer, a South African 17)mercenary, and Solomon Vandy, a Mende fisherman are joined in a common quest to recover a rare pink diamond, that can transform their lives. While in prison for smuggling, Archer learns that Solomon, who had been taken away from his family and forced to work in the diamond fields, has found and hidden the extraordinary rough stone. With the help of Maddy Bowen, an American journalist, the two men embark on a trek through rebel territory to recover the diamond.
You may sense that this tale is vaguely 18)derivative—there are elements of Casablanca, The Defiant Ones, and Under Fire—but you can enjoy what’s 19)synthetic and movieish in Blood Diamond without finding the film any less stirring as a portrait of Africa in chaos.
Zwick has 20)jettisoned the noble 21)clichés of Glory, the grandstanding of The Siege, the embarrassing solemn antics of The Last 22)Samurai. His work is serious there, pulling back from the obvious, digging deeper into Africa’s 23)psyche. Leonardo DiCaprio, who has earned two previous Oscar nominations was also nominated for Best Actor this year for the role of Danny Archer in Blood Diamond.
《血钻》
主演： 莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥
吉蒙·休斯
詹妮弗·康奈利
导演： 爱德华·瑞克
奥斯卡奖项及提名： 2007年度奥斯卡最佳男主角提名（莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥）
2007年度奥斯卡最佳男配角提名（吉蒙·休斯）
故事发生在20世纪90年代内战混乱无序的塞拉利昂，因为追寻一颗珍贵的粉红钻石的下落，来自南非的雇佣兵丹尼·阿彻尔和当地门德族渔民所罗门·梵迪走到一起，如果得到这颗钻石，他们的生活将彻底改变。阿彻尔因走私而入狱，在狱中他得知被迫离家并在钻石矿场工作的所罗门已经找到并藏起了那块珍宝。在一位美国记者麦迪·宝文的帮助下，两人开始穿越战乱的领地追索宝钻。
你可能会觉得这个情节似曾相识，有点《北非谍影》、《逃狱惊魂》以及《战火下》的影子，但因为影片对动荡战乱的非洲描画细腻，你在享受大杂烩电影桥段的同时，仍能感受到相当的新鲜震撼。
导演瑞克抛开了《光荣战役》中宣扬崇高精神的老调，也舍弃了《地牢围攻》式的哗众取宠和《最后的武士》里面那尴尬的肃穆怪异。《血钻》是他的认真之作，没有停留在表面，只是深入表现非洲的灵魂。之前已经两度荣获奥斯卡提名的莱昂纳多·迪卡普里奥凭着《血钻》里面丹尼·阿彻尔这一角色今年再获最佳男主角的提名。
The Constant Gardener
Starring:Ralph Fiennes,
Rachel Weisz
Director:Fernando Meirelles
Academy Awards & Nominations:Oscar, Best Actress, 2006
In a remote area of Northern Kenya, the region’s most dedicated activist, the brilliant and passionate Tessa Quayle, has been found brutally murdered. The evidence points to a crime of passion. Haunted by 24)remorse, and 25)jarred by rumors of his wife’s 26)infidelities, Justin Quayle, Tessa’ mild-mannered and unambitious 27)widower, surprises himself by plunging headlong into a dangerous odyssey to clear his wife’s name and “finish what she started.” Justin embarks on a crash course to learn about the 28)pharmaceutical industry, whose crimes Tessa was on the verge of uncovering, and journeys across two continents in search of the truth.
Set mostly in Africa, directed by a Brazilian, starring two Brits and financed by an American studio, The Constant Gardener is a truly multicultural film. This is not a thriller designed for the crowd that prefers shoot-outs, chases, and other action-packed incidents. The Constant Gardener is talky and intelligent, and never takes the cheap way out. It’s also something of a 29)downer, both in terms of how the main characters are handled and in its 30)cynical attitude toward the pharmaceutical industry. Yes, there’s also a love story here, but the most powerful aspect of the movie is what it has to say about the problems in Africa.
《不朽的园丁》
主演： 拉尔夫·费因斯
蕾切尔·薇兹
导演： 费南多·梅利勒斯
奥斯卡奖项及提名： 2006年度奥斯卡最佳女主角（蕾切尔·薇兹）
故事发生在肯尼亚北部一个偏远地区，聪明、热情的泰莎·奎伊是该地区最积极的政治活动家，她被残酷地谋杀了，证据显示是情杀。她的丈夫贾斯汀懊恼不已，妻子不忠的流言令他很震惊。平时温和淡泊的他出人意表地踏上险阻重重的征途，为了还妻子一个清白，并“完成她未尽的事业”。之前泰莎在调查制药业的罪行，当真相快要被揭露时却遇害了，于是贾斯汀挑战学习有关制药业的相关知识，穿越两大洲找寻事实的真相。
《不朽的园丁》大部分在非洲取景，由巴西人执导，两位主角是英国人，由美国的电影制作公司投资，这部电影可谓是真正的多元文化融合的结晶。《不朽的园丁》不是为爱看火爆枪战、飞车追逐或者其他打斗场面的观众而拍的惊悚片。这部电影有很多对白，充满智慧，而且从不俗气老套。同时影片也多少有点悲观，从它对两位主角的刻画和对制药业的怀疑态度可以看出。不错，片中也有爱情故事，但最具震撼力的还是它对非洲问题的揭示。
Hotel Rwanda
Starring:Don Cheadle,
Sophie Okonedo
Director:Terry George
Academy Awards & Nominations:Nomination, Best
Actor, 2005
Nomination, Best
Supporting Actress, 2005
Nomination, Original
Screenplay, 2005
As the country of Rwanda descends into madness, one man has resolved to protect the family he loves, and ends up finding the courage to save over 1,200 people. Paul Rusesabagina, a hotel manager in Rwanda, secretly uses his position and intelligence to shelter over a thousand refugees during the 31)genocide crisis. With the rest of the world watching by the 32)sidelines, Paul begins a voyage that would ultimately prove the unimaginable strength of human spirit.
Hotel Rwanda has been repeatedly compared to Schindler’s List. Yet Schindler’s List is an artistic rendering of a tragedy, whereas writer and director Terry George dreads for dramatic realism and delivers a riveting drama.
Hotel Rwanda works not because of a screen filled with superficial special effects, spectacular action or vast digital armies, but because the filmmakers’ interest in the choices or ordinary men confronted with extraordinary circumstances.
《卢旺达饭店》
主演： 唐·钱德尔
索菲·奥康尼多
导演： 特里·乔治
奥斯卡奖项及提名： 2005年度奥斯卡最佳男主角提名（唐·钱德尔）
2005年度奥斯卡最佳女配角提名（索菲·奥康尼多）
2005年度奥斯卡最佳原创剧本提名
当卢旺达陷入疯狂的种族屠戮时，有一个人决心要保护他心爱的家人，而最后他更鼓足勇气拯救了1200多人的生命。保罗·鲁塞萨巴吉纳是卢旺达一家酒店的经理，他秘密利用职权，机智地保护了1000多个难民，使他们免遭种族屠戮的毒手。当世界上其它地区的人们还在袖手旁观时，保罗已经开始了他的计划，最终显示出难以想象的人性力量。
常有人将《卢旺达饭店》跟《辛德勒的名单》相提并论。但《辛德勒的名单》是对一场悲剧的艺术演绎，而《卢旺达饭店》的编剧兼导演特里·乔治厌恶写实化的戏剧，他为观众带来的是扣人心弦的剧情片。
《卢旺达饭店》之所以成功不是因为画面充斥着那些肤浅的特技效果，壮观的动作场面，更不是因为用数码特效做出来的千军万马，而在于影片制作人悉心探讨的主题——常人在非常时期所做的抉择。