Starlight Hotel

I found this movie to be a really good and uplifting film. It features a couple on the lam from various unjustices in life during depression-era New Zealand and does a good job in all areas, including character development and good and interesting situations. You might like this film if you can find it. I liked it.

*** out of ****

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.

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.

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.

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.