The story is based on the real-life experiences of Paul Rusesabagina -LRB- Mr. Cheadle -RRB- , the soft-spoken Hutu manager of the Hotel des Mille Collines , in Kigali , who with his Tutsi wife , Tatiana -LRB- Ms. Okonedo -RRB- , and children , narrowly escapes death several times .