Quite by accident and sheer coincidence, this morning I read a film review dated 22nd October 2005… the review of a very moving film, “Hotel Rwanda”, which I borrowed from the library and watched just last night. Although its original release was in 2004, the film has been released only recently in India, I believe. When I read this review by Subhash K. Jha, I was shocked, to say the least. The reviewer’s ignorance was obvious, but worse still is the lack of professionalism on the part of newKerala.com – the publisher – in printing and publishing a film review without fact-checking. No laughing matter, the issues in this film are historically infamous; adding insult to injury he even bungled up the credits of a movie as renowned as “Schindler’s List”! Ironically, the reviewer is considered a “stalwart” in his field!
Already sent to newKerala.com (the online newspaper since 2001), my comment was as follows:
Message: Mr Jha and publishers of newKerala.com
Your comparison of Hotel Rwanda to Schindler’s List is quite apt. However, it was Oskar Schindler, played by Liam Neeson, who saved 1000-1100 Jews from being gassed, from the barbarism, and from the atrocities inflicted on them by Nazis during the Second World War! How could Subhash K. Jha get his facts so mixed up. Worse, you even published this review, without checking facts of the world-infamous genocide! It’s shocking.
I am eager to see what the online paper has to say in response. In the mean while, please read their review which I have posted below and feel free to comment on this blog as well. In case you have not seen the film “Hotel Rwanda” till date, I strongly recommend it to you; it will be worth your time as the film reveals the dark and dirty secrets about a country in Africa where the people suffered atrocities in times as recent as the mid-nineties, just over ten years ago!
Please read Subhas K Jha’s review to see why I’m so infuriated!
