HOTEL DU LAC

UK, 1986, 75 minutes. Colour.
Anna Massey, Denholm Elliott, Googie Withers, Julia McKenzie?, Patricia Hodge, Irene Handl, Barry Foster, Ann Firbank, Jean- Marc Barr, Patsy Byrne.
Directed by Giles Foster.

Hotel du Lac is a brief film based on the Booker Prize-winning novel by Anita Brookner. It has a very strong cast, with Anna Massey as a crime writer, reminiscing from a Swiss hotel where she has gone to live alone after an affair. The film focuses on a range of guests and their idiosyncrasies and their interactions with the writer. It is a film of characters and interiors rather than of action.

The novel was adapted by playwright Christopher Hampton, best known for Dangerous Liaisons, who also wrote the book for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard. His other screenplays include Cheri, Atonement, The Quiet American, Mary Reilly. He also directed Carrington, The Secret Agent, Imagining Argentina, all of which he wrote. The direction is by Giles Foster, a prolific director for British television.

1. The impact of this television film? Its British style? The adaptation of Anita Brookner’s award-winning novel?

2. The Swiss settings, the beauty, the lake, the hotel, exteriors and interiors? The contrast with the flashbacks to Londond? The musical score?

3. The voice-over, Edith and her perspective, her holiday, the flashbacks and what they revealed about her?

4. Edith in herself, Anna Massey’s performance, as a writer, at home, away from home, David and the letters, the memories of the affair? Penelope, Geoffrey and being jilted? Her encounters, interactions? Mr Neville and the arrangements? Her discussions with the other guests? Sexuality and Jennifer? Her final decisions?

5. David, his character, the relationship with Edith, the affair, his wife?

6. Geoffrey, the ring, jilted?

7. The hotel and its style, the details of the routines, the staff, the countess?

8. The character of Mrs Pusey, loud, her relationship with her daughter, Jennifer and her vulgar style?

9. Mr Neville, his life, the arrangements?

10. The portrait of Monica, the child?

11. Characters in miniature? Portraits of human nature?