„Understanding Hotel Ruanda“ - A reception study (completed)

In recent years, the representation of historical events in movies became a matter of interest for investigations from different perspectives. Scholars in history, for example, focus on the construction of interpretations of history in films. In Germany, this is the case for studies focusing on the former GDR and the Holocaust. Furthermore, these movies are enjoying public attention through the provision of additional information contributing to the political and pedagogical education of the public. Furthermore, these films are part of a larger public debate that is concerned with constructed views on history and their critical assessment (i.e. films).

Beyond the occupation with products of the cultural industry, empirical studies on private interpretations of historic events revealed that traces of film consumption can be found in the construction and interpretation of history by individuals and groups. Even though the films present different perspectives and problems (not focusing on the reception of film in general), they seem to present references for the construction and interpretation of history. At the same time, the material provided by films may be incorporated into narrations of personal (family) history. The direct impact of movies about contemporary historic events on the viewer’s interpretation of such events is hardly investigated. With regard to the above mentioned correlations, this lack of studies is surprising.

Therefore, we initiated a pilot study “Understanding Hotel Rwanda” which will be completed in October 2007. The focus of the study lies on the movie “Hotel Rwanda” (2005) which is based on the genocides in Rwanda in 1994 and tries to capture the remembrance of the movie as well as interpretations of the actual events. Aim of this comparative study (USA-Germany) is to reconstruct what (1) is remembered by whom (2) in what way (3).

(1) What: e.g. actors, events, motives, causes.

(2) By whom/ who: e.g. age, sex, education.

(3) In what way: e.g. context, dramatization.

The pilot study will lead to a larger project concentrating on the reception of historic movies.