Hotell E

This Estonian animated film is the sort of thing you might expect to see in some art house or in an artsy animation exhibit or festival. That's because it has no sort of narrative that the ordinary person could understand (without drugs) and the art style is very odd-putting for many out there. While I can respect the effort and various styles they used, this film just isn't very pleasant and is way too surreal and bizarre for my tastes.

The film consists of separate sections identified as Prologue 1 and 2 as well as the film itself. Aside from an interesting recreation of the Last Supper, I didn't get much from the prologues. As for the rest of the film, it also is divided into two worlds--with very different animation. One is very early 1970s pop art (sort of like it was inspired by Leroy Nieman). It's bright and garish and a bit ugly. The other section is very, very dark and surreal. It's depressing to see because of the colors and there are sure a lot of bugs. As to what's happening and why, I am at a total loss.

Overall, this made my brain hurt.

This is neat take on the political divide witnessed in Eastern Europe during the 80s and 90s... dissolution of powers and the differences in rule, etc. NOT a plot-less toon for drug addled minds, though the semi-surrealist animation may invoke the dirty-hippie hater in you if Disney is more your thing and you are without a decent education.

The previous reviewer just gave themselves away as an ignorant rube by saying "it has no sort of narrative that the ordinary person could understand (without drugs)" and then they went on to say that the two styles of animation hurt their head. Perhaps fairly recent history and current events blow circuits in their brain as well.

The divide is as follows: one pleasantly drawn was for the happier way of life that would result by a new government, the other a very dark scary place because of tyrannical rule. This is actually a surprisingly insightful, look into the tolls taken on people during that shaky time created by a person who lived very close to it all.

Nice & short, cool aesthetic.

I find it sad how this wonderful film has a somewhat pitiful rating, all due to the one review.

This, now, this is something. It's thoughtful. Not mean-spirited in much of any way (Anti-Americanism is not something without merit, much as to how most modern countries affected by the British, view their earlier nemesis/tormentor with contempt).

This, and Breakfast on the Grass (1987), are the best of Priit Parn's work. View this with an open mind. View it while understanding the problems that faced many eastern European's at the time...

And most importantly: Know your history. This is not one of those merely-pretentious works you see a lot, today. This is a thought-driven work purely... With a touch of the director's own zeal.