I went to the movies and saw two films back to back again. But this time there is no parallel to be drawn between them. I chose the first one, “Being Julia”, because it happened to be about to start when I walked into the cinema. It is the story of an ageing theater actress who has an affair with a much younger man. The actress is played by Annette Bening, who is pretty and a good actress. There is one scene at the end of the movie that might make the movie worth seeing. She is set to play opposite a much younger woman who is now the mistress of both Annette’s husband and her young ex lover as well. She has been unexpectedly cooperative up until then…and when the curtain rises….she turns the tables on the young beauty… http://www.sonyclassics.com/beingjulia/
The second film is of a totally different caliber, it is “Hotel Rwanda”. It is based on the true story of Paul Rusesabagina, a man who managed to save over a thousand Rwandans from the genocide. He was manager in a five star hotel and he welcomed, hid and protected Tutsis refugees on the premises. It is a powerful and violent film. But, from what I have seen in recent years on the subject, no film can ever come close to the horror of that “war” between brothers: the Utus and the Tutsis. When I was young and read about the Holocaust I was ashamed for the human race…but at least it was ultimately recognized and criticized. But the genocide in Rwanda has been for the most part ignored by the rest of the world…and THAT, in this day of instant communication, is unforgivable. http://www.mgm.com/ua/hotelrwanda/intro.html