Hotel Splendide

What an odd movie to pop up on my list of recommendation on Prime. The cast is excellent (I'll watch anything with Daniel Craig), but the ensemble is amazing. The precis presented by Prime is incorrect -- the young woman returning to the monstrosity that is the Hotel Splendide is the former lover, not the sister, of the chef, and this change turned what I thought might be a quirky comedy into a rather dark but still lively exploration of what happens when the dead refuse to die. The atmosphere of this film is somewhere between Grand Budapest Hotel and Amalie -- I definitely feel the shades of Jeunot and Caro flitting about -- but the revolution which occurs is quintessentially British -- low key, strange, and ultimately enlightening.

Toni Collette, after her breakthrough but before she became a very visible and recognizable international star. Daniel Craig, before he became James Bond. Stephen Tompkinson, fresh off of 'Ballykissangel' and his celebrated role as Father Clifford. All that's to say nothing of some other notable names and faces, including Toby Jones and Peter Vaughan, and these alone make 'Hotel Splendide' a bit of a curiosity. Then there's the production design and art direction - and even the sharp, eye-catching, flavorful costume design, hair, makeup, effects, and cinematography - by which one could easily enough mistake this as the work of Jean-Pierre Jeunet ('Delicatessen,' 'The city of lost children'), or depending on your frame of reference, possibly Tim Burton or Wes Anderson. 'Hotel Splendide' is wry and kooky as a dark comedy, but it also boasts a playful, offbeat whimsy in telling of an isolated, decaying health spa (further bearing notes of 'The road to Wellville'), the family that operates it, and the upset that follows the return of a past employee. With the actors all joyfully embracing the peculiar fancy of the production and of their characters, even as I don't entirely know what to make of this film, I'd be lying if I said it weren't marvelously enjoyable.

Even composer Mark Tschanz takes the overarching tenor and just runs with it, providing an original score that's often jaunty and peppy like a traveling carnival sideshow. The outcome is a feature that is outwardly just half a heartbeat away from fantasy, sci-fi, or even horror, while nevertheless ostensibly taking place in "the real world." The sheer amount of brilliant detail that's poured into every element is kind of exhilarating. I'm not exactly familiar with filmmaker Terence Gross, and he doesn't seem to have a lot of credits to his name, but I'm quite taken with this minor gem that he created. The characterizations alone, the quirks and personalities that he bestowed on these figures, are rich and tantalizing; Gross could have put them in any setting and it would be a joy to watch the fireworks fly. Factor in the isolation, and the very nature of "health resorts" (or whatever one may call them) as something more than a little on the fringe of society, and the whole is ripe with potential.

For my part, I think we see that potential deftly realized through individual scenes and ideas that capitalize on the strange, sometimes almost surreal splendor of the concoction. It's maybe not realized entirely as much through the narrative that draws it all together. The return of individualist Kath is a shock to the system that shakes the foundations of a family, and a hotel, that is effectively, ominously ruled over by the family matriarch even in death, and the tumult upends both the stale, persisting routines and beliefs of the people involved, and the treatment regime that is decidedly less beneficial than advertised - all quite by the design of that same late matriarch, and moreover executed through her True Believer son, Dezmond. The plot is there, but it's not completely as solid and sure-footed as everything else that greets us; I think the connective tissue of the story just isn't as fully developed, even as soft but definitively relevant themes emerge of the cruel hypocrisy and decadence of those in power who would demand austerity of their subjects. Thankfully, though this strikes me as the relative weak point of the picture, the rest is certainly strong enough to help shore it up. That absolutely includes the cast, and though I dare not discount anyone else, I wonder if it's not the case that Tompkinson steals the show with the severe yet frayed, nervous energy he carries as Dezmond.

It's very weird, and imperfect, with the often ingenious thoughts not always coming out so clearly and cogently in the end product. Superb and highly entertaining as this movie mostly is, any perceived faults come down to Gross' writing as much as his direction - a reflection not perhaps of abject failure, but simply of how Gross stood to still grow and develop in his skills. No matter how we scrutinize the particulars, though, I don't think there's much arguing how creative and original this is, and it remains far better than not, with lasting value far outshining any lesser aspects. Everything looks and sounds incredible, representing high production standards that frankly outpace some new releases of twenty-five years later. It won't appeal to all comers, but for those who are receptive to all t he wide, wacky possibilities of cinema, 'Hotel Splendide' is an off-kilter gem that is well worth checking out. Enter with an open mind and just enjoy the ride; I'm happy to give this my warm recommendation.

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!!!!

Just watched the film and certainly haven't seen anything like it in a long time. Sort of a weird cross between an Ealing comedy and a Gothic horror. Loved the texture and atmosphere but didn't get that engaged with the story, which is is at times comic and at other moments disturbing or just plain strange, though the characters are beautifully drawn and very memorable, especially Stanley, the neurotic virgin, and the sister, Cora.

People seem to either love or hate this one - maybe because it's so different from the run of the mill Brit film. It seems to draw on an earlier period in cinema for its style and references, which I thought was refreshing. At the end I had the feeling that it might have begun as an even darker and stranger story that has had some element or other removed, maybe to make it more accessible. It does have some really haunting images and a great sound effects track. Definitely worth watching, for its atmosphere alone.