Starlight Hotel

This is my all-time favourite film, and has been ever since I first saw it back in, I guess, 1990 or so.

From the first note of the music, I knew it was going to be special. I *adore* the soundtrack (music is a big part of films for me, and put me on the path to becoming a musician), the cinematography, the amazing countryside.

It's not particularly complicated in the script department, and actually is quite light on dialog, but it's charming, engaging and beautiful.

It's never going to happen, but I would really love a decent DVD release of this in stereo...

Update: Feb 2012.The New Zealand Film Commission have been buying up the rights to some NZ films for DVD release, and Starlight Hotel is one of them. It appears the DVD is now available from: http://www.screenline.co.nz/catalogue/index.php? main_page=product_info&cPath=1_20&products_id=378

Pal Region 4 release for now. Mine is ordered, and I'll update the review when it arrives.

So if you want to settle into a charming, delightful, innocent little coming of age tale, I can't recommend Starlight Hotel enough. My all-time favourite film. Ever.

One of those films that I look back in with fond memories, but wouldn't stand up to any sort of scrutiny. Only writing this review because someone might read it. Not really much point writing down my thoughts on the Matrix! So Starlight Hotel. Sentimental old claptrap really. But at the same time, everything works out well in the end but it's not what you could call a happy ending. The New Zealand scenery is smashing, and the actors involved give a good performance. The ending really is quite moving, has to rank up there with Johnny Five getting the $#!+ kicked out of him by his two "friends" in Short Circuit 2. So there you have it, my first film review, and nobody any the wiser.

The initial plot set-up for "Starlight Hotel" is virtually identical to that of an American film made two years earlier called "The Journey of Natty Gann". Greer Robson plays young Kate, whose father leaves New Zealand to find work during the Great Depression. After things don't quite work out with being left behind, she decides to find her own way out to meet him. This film isn't quite as well-realized as the aforementioned American production, but it's still an excellent watch for kids. There's two major highlights here - the first is Greer Robson (who I'd liked in "Smash Palace", made six years earlier) who gives a very engaging, natural performance. The second is the vivid and beautiful cinematography by Warrick Attewell.

The major, distracting downside is the music. Instead of making something a little more chronologically appropriate for a film set in the 1930s, Andrew Hagen and Morton Wilson composed a soundtrack full of echoey synths and tickling pop piano. It's rages above the soundtrack like a whore with hideous makeup. It's the only time I've ever heard music that was so bad it came close to sinking an entire film.

There's all the inherent improbabilities one might expect from an adventure story aimed at younger audiences, but it doesn't fly in the face of reality too much. None of the humor is cheap or easy. "Starlight Hotel" is generally a lighthearted film, and by extension, a rather lightweight one as well. I enjoyed a lot. You should too, especially if you watch it with children.

1930s New Zealand.

Really good film. Very atmospheric with some interesting cinematography.

A tale of an unlikely couple. One running away and one running to.

One thing I don't really understand is that the journey on the South Island gives the impression of being across and almost a barren and parched wasteland, which it isn't at all.

It's hard economic times in New Zealand amidst the 1930s depression, so a man leaves home to find work in Wellington. His young daughter doesn't want to be left behind, so she leaves home herself to reunite with him. She soon teams up with a man being chased by the law, and on the run to Australia. At first neither are enthused about each other's company, but a series of challenges eventually results in a good working relationship. It's a completely platonic one, however.

Lots of adventures during their odyssey, and plenty of interesting people along the way. Exceptional performances by both Greer Robson-Kirk and Peter Phelps make their characters believable and interesting.

One issue with this movie is it has too many subplots. Perhaps the screenwriter added segments so more New Zealand actors could get exposure in a locally-made production. Several of the segments added little to the story, however, but did cost it momentum.