Hotel Rwanda is a movie based on a true story about Rwanda’s problems involving Hutus and Tutsi. Paul Rusesabagina is a hotel manager who housed many Tutsi refugees. During the time, he faces difficulties and struggles because  Hutus decide to have revenge on them. Terry George, the director, used these techniques in Hotel Rwanda and brought a vast set of cinematographic techniques. This wide range of techniques included camera angles, camera shots, music, etc. The commencement of the scene started when Paul approached a vehicle with an anonymous driver but is interrupted by a member of Tutsi: George. Trying to be convinced, Paul responds using his resourceful methods. Driving back, Paul stops the van and exits it. He had found himself in a sea of dead bodies, in an unknown, mysterious setting. Throughout this essay I am going to be examining the different types of camera uses.

The first technique I am going to analyse is camera shots. Terry George uses Camera shots in the scene to show certain emotions of such objects and characters. This is to show the perception of the frame. An example would be when Paul was devastated at the fact there were dead bodies. Meanwhile the camera had showed a mid-shot of Paul. Throughout this moment, we could see Paul’s body language and confusion at this stage as he had just found himself in an unlikely setting. The director, Terry George, used the mid shot effectively as the shot included a new gloomy setting and Paul in focus. As he continues to stare, the camera approaches his face, displaying his reaction to the bodies, capturing a close up shot of Paul. The close up shots showed Paul’s true feelings toward the dead bodies. During this, it had showed that Paul was purposely lead to a wrong direction. In addition, a Long shot was captured when the van was approaching its destination. This shot gave the audience a glimpse of the foggy setting and the vehicle which was the focus at the time. It also increases the suspense as the new setting had just been presented so the audience would be questioning themselves, wanting to know more. As the scene progresses Paul is seen observing the dead bodies whilst he is being caught in the “over the shoulder” shot. This is effective because the over the shoulder shot gives them the shot from the character’s perspective. This makes the audience more involved and they feel more engaged with this shot. Camera shots give the audience more of an idea of how the perception of the scene is and how the characters are actually feeling during a particular time.

Additionally, another two technique which has contributed in this epiphany scene is Camera movement and Camera angles. Terry George uses Camera angles to make us feel like we are accompanying the characters. A scenario of this is when Paul is seen on the right of the frame, exiting the van. The camera angle is located at an eye-level angle. This angle is when the character is at an equal length with the audience, allowing the audience to feel comfortable. Paul trips and falls to the surface however the camera angle remains at the ‘level angle’. Eventually the camera angle is at a low angle, following Paul’s act. This made it very natural because our natural instinct is the same as this technique he used. Also this makes the spectator worried because they have no clue where Paul is. The tension builds because the camera angle doesn’t follow Paul, as it normally would. This is how the director improves Paul’s epiphany scene. The second technique is camera movements. This is the motion/movements of the camera during the scene. An example of the director being exceptionally successful is, mid-scene, when Paul is shocked at his observation. He is showed side to side at the camera and steadily the camera transforms its way to the over the shoulder shot. Whilst the movement is being made, we could see Paul’s mood and body language as it slowly proceeds past him. Another situation which includes camera movement is when Paul was observing his surroundings and discovered the ground was brimful with bodies. When this happens the camera shows Paul’s actual perspective, looking at the bodies. The camera slowly tours the bodies. One by one, the camera (which shows Paul’s observation) moves from body to body. This develops the scene because the audience views something the characters actually view which makes them agree with Paul’s feelings toward the subject and more understanding of how serious it is.

The second technique Terry George uses is focus. He uses focus in the scene to centralize the main image in the frame. This is drawing the audience’s attention to the specific picture and blurs the non-related bits which are only indistinctly out of focus. Paul begins to realize that George’s statement was sarcastically false. Mid scene, Paul makes a sudden departure out of the van and drops. As he slowly recovers, Paul is in clear focus however the bodies surrounding him are indistinctly out of focus. The camera had enhanced Paul, making him stand out whilst the dead bodies were blurred. This is convincing as Paul is just trying to identify his surroundings at the same pace as the audience. Gradually Paul’s surroundings became clear in focus. Overall, Focus makes us have that anxious anxiety, making us question “what is the object out of focus?”

Another two techniques the director works on is music and sound. Music is the intense percussion rhythm in the background which adds to the suspenseful moment that is eventually leading up to the ‘final piece’. Different music equates to different moods. When Paul dramatically fell onto the dead bodies, he gasped because he was not aware of the situation outside. The atmosphere at that moment was scary, foggy and unclear. A second later a slow, mysterious, repetitive rhythm was added on to the scene. This affected the scene because it made the spectators feel anxious as it was the correct sound, matching the mood. Music changes the way the scene is held because without the music the viewers wouldn’t feel that anxiety flowing through them which is needed. Similarly, sound is another movie ability the director uses to build tension. Sound is the short, computerized special effects. An example of this happening is when Paul noticed the dead girl. As soon as he became aware of her, a sound of a machete being released was played. This gives the scene more tension as the specific sound linked to the scene. The relevance of the sound and the scene was based on the horrific murders from the Hutus to the Tutsi. This was very effective as it made a scary atmosphere but also linked to the scene. Another example is when Paul falls and a sudden drop beat is played. This occurred because the surface he landed on was unexpected and improbable. It developed the scene because the sound was followed by the machete and the mysterious music. It caused a daunting experience for the audience. These two techniques are outstanding and give the scene more tension but are underrated for its qualities. This is how Terry George used music and sound to improve the quality of Paul’s epiphany scene. 

In conclusion, Terry George has successfully uses a variety of cinematographic techniques to increase the tension of Paul’s epiphany scene. He controls the viewer’s attention using his intelligent methods.As seen is this essay, he develops the scene by creating his own way to make it suspenseful and natural as possible.