Starlight Hotel

I have watched this film many, many times. Kate, a young girl watches as her father leaves to find work. She has no mother, she is sad. She is late for school and made to stand in class, then picked on by others during the break. Whereupon he decides to runaway.

Earlier she had met a swagman who tells her if you want to do something, do it. This man later crops up as various times during the film. He exudes benevolence. Then Kate meets Patrick, who is clearly on the run. At first he does not even realise she is a girl. Rather reluctantly, certainly on his part, they link up. She is a nuisance he could do without. There are times they are going to go their separate ways, but cannot. On one occasion, Patrick rushes after her when he fears she is being picked up by a stranger ; another time she saves him being beaten up. They relationship becomes close.

Clearly their relationship is going to be very important to both of them for the rest of their lives. They will never forget. This film is real, not sentimental. The two central actors work wonderfully well together, and are very sympathetic characters. They both deliver the goods magnificently . The director is clearly on the side of the under-dog. Those in authority do not come out of it very well. And that includes a man who is trying to start a riot.

The scenery, the light, is amazing. I cannot fault this fault. This is one of my favourite films. If you have not seen it, give it a try. It is moving, but also have much humour. At one point they are rowing, then Patrick literally falls in the mire, then gets covered in feathers. They then both laugh. Such is their relationship.

A real delight.

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.

The story is an odyssey, in which the director (Sam Pillsbury) airs his sense of social injustices, but in a reasonably gentle style (although the protest isn't gentle). The film also speaks to us in another age, far removed from depression era, post-WWI, New Zealand, though in fact, very little seems to have actually changed. After all, here in 21st century America, the poor are still being evicted and dumped onto the streets, soldiers are still send to fight and die for dubious (and fictitious) causes, while their veteran's benefits are slashed and their enlistment contracts are ignored. Far too many people must still seek medical help in charity institutions. Yet all the while we have to listen to the insufferable platitudes of officials declaring the wonders of the human condition in this great and wonderful land, while perhaps as many as 20 million American children will go to bed hungry tonight. Somewhere in this (not totally perfect) little treasure is a wry sense of humor between the embittered war-veteran (Peter Phelps) and the runaway teenage girl (Greer Robson, a great beauty, now a bit more grownup than the little girl who played the late and great Bruno Lawrence's daughter in "Smash Palace (1981)", now available on DVD). Their growing affection, in light of their mutual dependence on each other, provides the hint of a love story. I have always been very fond (sentimentally so, I admit) of this almost unknown little film. Unfortunately, now available only on previously viewed videotape, from private sellers (in the USA, see Amazon.com third-party sellers).

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.

I remember see film along time ago on television. A young girl search for her father after he left her looking work in 1930's New Zealand. On her travels meet a man who helps poor families keeping their property, and is a fugitive from justice. All the performances are wonderful and the scenery in New Zealand is beautiful. I highly recommend watching this film. Something not to pass up to see.