Paul has to negotiate with the Hutus in order to secure his family's safety. At first, Paul bribes the Hutu militia with alcohol and money, but eventually has to resort to negotiations and other means to secure his family and other Tutsi's safety. Finally at the end, in a last ditch effort to save everyone, Paul goes to the Rwandan general, Augustin Bizimungu, and begs for assistance. After Paul is denied, he black mails the general by threatening to have him tried as a war criminal if he refuses to help. Paul, his family, and the rest of the refugees who holed up in Paul's hotel are able to escape via UN convoy and they make it past the Tutsi rebel lines to safety.
The movie, Hotel Rwanda, takes place during the Rwandan massacre when Hutus committed a genocide against the Tutsi. Paul's wife is a Tutsi and Paul, a hotel owner, has to go to extreme lengths to keep her, and the rest of their family, safe from the Hutus. More Tutsi refugees seek shelter at Paul's hotel as he is able to keep the Hutus at bay.