I had the pleasure of seeing the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel at our local cinema recently.
It was a glorious, colourful story of British pensioners who all arrived in Jaipur, India to stay at the aforementioned hotel. Needless to say, it did not come up to any of their expectations at all!
This story is taken from the 2004 book called These Foolish Things, written by Deborah Moggach. What a stellar cast! Tom Wilkinson, Dame Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Bill Nighy to name but a few.
This is a comedy/drama (more drama actually) with a few witty conversations from time to time. There is tremendous color and noise throughout the film, depicting India in all its glory. The owner of this hotel is a very chatty young man who does everything he can to make the guests comfortable.
His love life is part of the story and depicts how difficult life can be for these young people as their parents try to arrange their life partners for them.
I personally found this to be a very uplifting film, giving us the wonderful story of older people doing different things in their life and even with all the difficulties encountered, they actually enjoy themselves.
There is one wonderful scene of a large white crane or egret (not quite sure which) taking off into flight and it is done with such elegance and majesty, it is one of my favourite moments.
This is a movie for all to enjoy, nothing too scandalous or vicarious, just good acting all round. Having just watched the miniseries Downtown Abbey, where Smith plays the Lady Dowager, now to see her in this movie, one can hardly believe it is the same person. Loved being in our little theatre again after some months of absence; nice, friendly atmosphere and so cool inside letting us escape from the heat of the afternoon.
– Liz Martin is a film critic for the Grand Forks Gazette, movie lover, cello player and happy retiree
