Shelter From the Storm ëRwandaí Depicts Hotel Manager Housing Refugees During Genocide by Ky N. Nguyen The gripping feature "Hotel Rwanda" artfully recreates the harrowing chaos of the genocide during the Rwandan civil war. Nearly 1 million people were killed over 100 days in 1994. Encouraged by inflammatory propaganda from government-controlled radio, Hutu extremists exterminated what they called "cockroaches": the Tutsi minorities and sympathetic Hutus. Despite the depressing subject matter, "Hotel Rwanda" manages to be an entertaining story thatís accessible to a mainstream audience. It largely avoids explicit violence, choosing to illustrate the horror more by revealing glimpses and creating tension. The film won the Peopleís Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival. Irish writer-director Terry George ("A Bright Shining Lie"), a specialist in humanistic political-themed movies, was an Oscar nominee for writing "In the Name of the Father." With his trademark mixture of worrisome calmness, award-winning American actor Don Cheadle (a Golden Globe winner for his portrayal of Sammy Davis Jr. in "The Rat Pack") shines as the fact-based character of Paul Rusesabagina, a Hutu married to a Tutsi, Tatiana (Briti sh-Nigerian actress Sophie Okonedo from "Dirty Pretty Things"). As the manager of the Milles Collines Hotel in Kigali, Paul risked his life by sheltering 1,268 refugees within the hotel grounds, saving them from probable genocide. Cheadle takes full advantage of his rare leading role to illustrate Paulís transformation. The earnest, subservient hotel manager changes from a man focused on pleasing his important guests into an entrepreneurial refugee camp director protecting thousands. He plies his connections, salesmanship and negotiating abilities to influence people, gain supplies and avert impending attacks on the hotel. Meanwhile, the story is personalized as a family drama and love story. Tatiana is concerned not only with her own familyís safety but that of her neighbors. Her prodding nudges Paul, who initially turned the other cheek, toward his path as an ordinary man performing heroic actions under extraordinary circumstances. As the massacres escalated, it was only a matter of time before the hotelís sanctuary was violated. It was protected by only a few U.N. peacekeepers (led by a colonel played by Nick Nolte), who had strict orders not to fire. Meanwhile, the international community largely did not intervene despite graphic footage of the killings shot by a journalist (Joaquin Phoenix). "Hotel Rwanda" (English; 112 min.) opens Fri., Jan. 7 at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cinema Arts. AlmodÛvarís ëBad Educationí Spanish bad-boy filmmaker Pedro AlmodÛvarís "Bad Education" proves that his critical success from "All About My Mother" and "Talk to Her" hasnít reduced his fascination with perversity a bit. Interestingly though, his latest film is almost entirely devoid of the (crazy) women that have populated most of his work. Slightly muting his typically colorful palette, he now tackles a film noir with his usual zeal and gusto. Mexican heartthrob Gael GarcÌa Bernal ("The Motorcycle Diaries") plays the femme fatale, wearing a dress quite well. He actually occupies three characters: aspiring actor Angel (who grew up called Ignacio), Ignacioís brother Juan, and transvestite Zahara. In the early 1980s, Ignacioís childhood friend and lover Enrique Goded (Fele MartÌnez from "Talk to Her") is now a successful young filmmaker, perhaps AlmodÛvarís alter ego. Angel brings Enrique a script based on their childhoods as abused pupils in a Catholic school. AlmodÛvar toiled on the ambitious film structure for 10 years, leaving the audience with rapidly changing perspectives of time and reality, including flashbacks of a film within a film. AlmodÛvar's unique blend of high-brow and low-brow culture pays homage to the history of cinema. "Bad Education" is not for the meek, but itís a treat for worthy art house patrons. "Bad Education (La Mala EducaciÛn)" (Spanish with subtitles; 109 min; scope.) opens Fri., Jan. 14 at Cinema Arts and other area theaters. ëVodka Lemoní: Bitter Cocktail No matter how tough our daily lives may seem, itís important to remember that much of the world has a vastly more difficult time struggling to eke out an existence. Set in a small Kurdish-Armenian village, "Vodka Lemon" gently reminds us of that truth. Kurdish-Iraqi director Hiner Saleemís absurd images reinforce the filmís surreal nature. It opens with an old musician being tugged across the snow on his bed to perform at a funeral. Saleem eschews a highly structured plot in favor of loose, casual conversations depicting the daily lives of the villagers. In the post-Soviet era, they complain about the "good old days"ónot that they were much better than the present. Despite their poverty and brutal winters, the characters have a nonchalant acceptance of their suffering. The interrelationships of the villagers are fleshed out around desperate economic transactions and chaos surrounding an upcoming wedding. A slow-developing love story involving widower Hamo (Romik Avinian) and younger widow Nina (Lala Sarkissian), who meet in the cemetery, delivers a touch of humanistic optimism. "Vodka Lemon" (Armenian, French, Russian and Kurdish with subtitles) is now playing at Landmarkís E Street Cinema. Repertory Notes Complementing the release of "Bad Education," the American Film Institute begins its celebration of Spaniard Pedro AlmodÛvarís career with "All About My Mother," "The Flower of My Secret," "Live Flesh" and "Talk to Her." AFI also presents a rare Nollywood series, showing video movies from Nigeria. "Tosca" and "Carmen" are shown in conjunction with the Washington Opera and receptions at the residences of the ambassadors from Italy and Spain, respectively. ((301) 495-6700, www.afi.com/Silver) From Jan. 13 to 20, New Films From Germany, Switzerland and Austriaóthe13th annual film festivalówill be co-presented by the Goethe-Institut in Washington, the Austrian Embassy and the Embassy of Switzerland. Following the opening night screening of "The Edukators," a reception with DJ will take place at the Goethe-Institut. ((202) 333-FILM: Code #781, www.goethe.de/ins/us/was/ver/flm/enindex.htm) The Iranian Film Festival 2005óorganized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Bostonóis the Freer Gallery of Artís ninth annual festival of Iranian films. The range of the five features covers thrillers, politics, religion and relationships. The new films come from both established and fresh talent, including veteran director Abolfazl Jalili and controversial newcomer Mania Akbari. ((202) 357-2700, www.asia.si.edu/events/films.asp) The National Gallery of Art continues its Films From the Land of Abraham series, focusing on recent work from Afghanistan. ((202) 842-6799, www.nga.gov/programs/film.htm) Ky N. Nguyen is the film reviewer for The Washington Diplomat.