Hotel Splendide

Watched this on DVD. Never even heard of it until now. I always loved those weird British movies from the sixties and seventies which seem to have disappeared as a genre - until Hotel Splendide. It's astonishing, like a whole world that just appeared out of nowhere. It's a story about how families destroy each other and how you have to break away from your childish attitudes and dependency to be free. But, mostly it's just this completely charming and unpredictable look at a place and a group of people who seem completely real, but couldn't possibly exist.

The movie it most reminded me of was Harold and Maude, though the story and characters are completely unrelated. Just something about the atmosphere and the humour.

Can't stop thinking about it. A must see

This is one of the strangest, most bizarre films I've watched - but it was splendid and hilarious!!! Great cast and wonderfully fun - but you need a sense of humor to watch it!!!!

I don't quite share the enthusiasm of the reviewers claiming that the movie is a must-see, but it is not trash either. It's actually a black-humored comedy and rather good for a change. I disagree about wasting 98 minutes of your life, because if you don't find the movie attractive in the first 10 minutes, then stop watching it - it's not your kind of a show. I wouldn't compare it to the Addams Family, one of my all-time favorites, but something in the setting, darkness, characters, and pace makes the two somehow alike. Though, indeed, I, too, would prefer less toilet and bowel movement humor, but it relates to the major part of the plot, the health efficiency theory of the masterful mother-former owner of the hotel who used to run (and seem to still run) it, so not much complaining there.

My opinion - give it a try, chances are that you'll be entertained. But if it doesn't work for you - well, the "Off" button is still on your remote.

I love this film. It is stunning, visually and aesthetically beautiful, works perfectly as a whole and is perfectly crafted. What negative things could possibly be said about it? Well, the problem is, we've seen it before. In the films of the french duo Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Marc Caro.

Hotel Splendide is, in its essence, a typical Jeunet/Caro-film; you'll find that virtually all the characters and aesthetics are lifted from "Delicatessen" and "The City of Lost Children". A hint of Greenaway perhaps, and a fairly large portion of Britishness... what we end up with is an extraordinary, beautiful, funny and moving film. In itself, the film is fantastic. What brings it down a bit is the fact that you find 90 % of this film in the two films by the French duo (J&C), which suggests that although transformed, the ideas weren't originally the writer/director's own.

However, if we go beyond the surface of the film we find a nicely crafted story and some subtle philosophical symbolism - the characters' inner struggles and their blind faith (that makes them unhealthy and miserable, although believing the opposite) can be seen as a a statement against fanatic religious or political believes, and the repression of individualism and the free mind. It's not profound in any way, but it's there, conscious or not.

The ending is, I'm afraid, exactly what you expect. I wish it wasn't, but apparently that's how it has to be in a film like this. The music is most of the time very annoying because it's obviously synthesizers trying to sound like an orchestra, and it's not very well done. Utterly bad use of an oboe-sound in the lead melody so stale it is laughable, and some tasteless pizzicato-sounds that scream out "cheapness" (and what's with that crash cymbal?). All in all the synths don't blend very well with the warm and very well played live violin that occasionally appears and brightens the day.

Finally, a word on the acting. It is overall superb. Hugh O'Conor's portrait of Stanley Smith is spot-on, intense but never over-acted. Katrin Cartlidge too gives a moving performance, and last but not least, Toni Collette is amazingly spellbinding as lovely Kath.

Well acted, well directed and well done, although not as original as it might seem. A good film, though. See it.

rbrb is a twit. if you do not understand this movie, then you might not like it. but for those who do, it is excellent. the movie is about this crazy woman (deceased) who is obsessed with obscure 'health' ideas such as no sugar, no alcohol, in fact, nothing that tastes the slightest bit good. she has this hotel and brainwashes her children and all the guests into staying there convincing them that to leave the island meant death from various illnesses and so forth. she convinces them that there is nothing on the outside, that crossing the water will kill them, etc etc etc. the surviving family, especially the son, try to carry on her crazy lifestyle, partly by using recorded sounds of her voice played over a speaker system.

but the hotel hires a new chef, she brings revolution, with her cakes and things that taste good... to the chagrin of the son, and the worry of many of the other residents. but others love her new ways and in fact welcome the revolution. and.. well.. you will just have to see the rest of the movie.

it is a metaphor for anyone who has been in a situation where they were brainwashed into thinking a certain way of life was necessary, that dependence was necessary, etc etc . if you dont understand this then perhaps you should mature past the age of, oh, say, 12, and get out more and understand other peoples experiences, and watch movies besides terminator 3 and independence day.