Anderson takes us through the interwar years of the fictional East European state of Zubrowka and in characteristic style invites us to view the recent history of The Grand Budapest Hotel. The intricate plot involves the gift of a valuable painting by wealthy guest Mme D (Tilda Swinton) to M. Gustave, the hotel proprietor and lothario (Ralph Fiennes). There are contributions from many Anderson regulars, while references to writer Stefan Zweig and filmmaker Ernst Lubitsch add gravitas to the otherwise flamboyant tone. “With The Grand Budapest Hotel Anderson’s charm and triviality has been gracefully gift-wrapped like a box of fine chocolates ready for mass consumption, yet like all truly luxurious treats this one feels like it’s been specially prepared just for us.” Patrick Gamble CineVue. (Cert 15)
Dir: Wes Anderson 100 mins USA/Ger/UK 2014
Programme Notes
The Grand Budapest Hotel
USA/Germany/Britain 2014 100mins Cert 15
Welcome to all our loyal existing members, to new members and guests, for ABCD’s fortieth anniversary year of screenings. We have a rich mixture of features and shorts to be shown over the next six months which we hope you will enjoy. We will also be welcoming four speakers to introduce films of particular interest and significance. We will be noting our anniversary with a celebratory Christmas screening of What’s Up Doc? (Peter Bogdanovich, 1972), originally shown on September 30th of our second season.
We commence this season with Wes Anderson’s latest film The Grand Budapest Hotel, which is set in the fictional East European state of Zubrowka in the 1930s. While the inhabitants of the hotel enjoy its lavish hospitality and the indulgent attention of its proprietor M. Gustave (Ralph Fiennes), the clouds are gathering around them foreshadowing the impending outbreak of violence and war. Anderson employs his characteristic mix of humour, wit and flamboyant visual style and the film features many of his regular contributors. The plot’s many strands spread out in a web-like structure, following the bequest to M. Gustave of a valuable painting owned by an elderly guest.
“Handsome opulent and cunningly devised, The Grand Budapest Hotel is Anderson’s homage to a Europe now lost to the annals of time.” Joe Walsh, Cine Vue.
M. Gustave – Ralph Fiennes
Mr Moustafa – F Murray Abraham
Agatha – Saoirse Ronan
Zero – Tony Revolori
M Ivan – Bill Murray
Director – Wes Anderson
Producers – Wes Anderson, Eli Bush
Screenplay – Wes Anderson
Cinematography – Robert D. Yeoman
Original Music – Alexandre Desplat
Comments
“Great fun”
“Most enjoyable”
“A treat – exquisite in every dotty detail”
“Quaint, exquisite and quite charming”
“Charming adult fairy tale”
“An absolute delight – most enjoyable even second time around. Music, atmosphere, décor, cakes, trains, scenery ….”
“An excellent caper with a strong screen ensemble, technically outstanding aesthetics and [with]
Alexandre Desplat’s fantastic music. This is destined to become a quirky cult classic.”
“This film filled my soul with good cheer!”
“Superb, Gothic black humour”
“Overwhelming!”
“No expense spared!”
“The Grand Pastiche!”
“Some slick sequences and some striking characters, sympathetic and unsympathetic but I lost the plot many times and even wondered whether there was one!”
“Lovely plot and graphics but far too long”
“Good fun but a bit ‘film making by numbers’. Pity about the CGI do you think they spent all the money on big names?”
“Muddled – needed better editing.”
“Thoroughly enjoyed the film but found the lights in the room distracting.”