THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL

UK, 2011, 124 minutes, Colour.
Maggie Smith, Bill Nighy, Judi Dench, Tom Wilkinson, Dev Patel, Penelope Wilton, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Tena Desae, Diana Hardcastle.
Directed by John Madden.

If you don’t enjoy this pleasing story of elderly British in Jaipur, responding to India, you are probably a stone – or, maybe, young!

First of all, this is an excellent cast, British character actors at their best. And they are well served by an amusing, often witty, script by Ol Parker who has adapted a novel by Deborah Moggach, These Foolish Things. And, apart from the opening which introduces the main characters in a less than attractive Britain, the rest of the film was shot in India, colourful and full of verve.

We find seven people who are having difficulties in England and in need of some kind of move. For most of them it is going away from home, job or, even, family. One has need for an immediate hip replacement operation. They all come across a brochure advertising the hotel of the title – the brainwave of a young man (gifted with enthusiastic dreaming but not with managerial skills): just as so many industries outsource to India, why not the care for the elderly?

Anyway, off goes this motley group, only to find it (you’ve guessed it), exotic and best are the last words you would use to describe the hotel. But, a saying is repeated, the optimistic ‘Everything will be all right at the end. So, if it is not all right, it is not yet the end'!

As the visitors begin to adapt to Jaipur, so do we (though there is one resister in the group). One does tours and delights in India, two are after partners and have roving eyes, one gets a job tutoring at a Call Centre, one is searching for a long lost friend. This provides quite some emotional and entertaining action. But, all the central characters get at least one opportunity for some heavy emoting.

Judi Dench is at her quietly charming best. Maggie Smith (who needs the hip surgery) is prejudiced and unashamed at her xenophobia, effectively delivering some bigoted lines in dominating form. Bill Nighy and Penelope Wilton are a couple, he discovering a new world, she resisting it. Celia Imre and Ronald Pickup are the two who are on the lookout for someone else in their lives.

The Slumdog Millionnaire himself, Dev Patel, is credibly enthusiastic as the proprietor of the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (who has to cope with a dominant mother who disapproves of his love for a modern young woman who works at the call centre).

While the film is basically light entertainment, there is still enough depth in the dialogue and characterization to raise some more serious thoughts and feelings about ageing, care for the elderly – and taking advantage of opportunities in later years.

1. The audience for this kind of film? The elderly identifying with the characters and situations? The younger audiences depending on their interest and experience?

2. The title and its tone?

3. The role of outsourcing in the United Kingdom? The idea of outsourcing aged care? Comic implications?

4. The reality of ageing, life experience, care for the elderly, a new life and possibilities?

5. The focus on the United Kingdom, the variety of situations, the introduction to each of the characters, the situations of deaths, financial difficulties, moving home, change of occupation, the law, opportunities, interest in adventure, operations, audiences identifying with these issues?

6. The advertisement, online, the responses, the decisions to go to India, the reaction of the families?

7. Travel, at the airport, the delays, the introductions to each other, on the bus, their experience in driving? The near-crash? Arrival, the hotel, Sonny and his welcome, his optimism, the dilapidation, their reactions? Demands for rooms?

8. The philosophy that all will be well at the end – and if this is not the end, then it is in progress?

9. Sonny and his enthusiasm, his situation, the bequest from his father, owning the hotel, his plans, the staff, the possibilities? The welcome, his patter, the very Indian style?

10. The visuals of Jaipur, contemporary, ordinary, the streets, transport, the people? The antiquities, the temples? The atmosphere of Hinduism? Official offices? Clubs and hotels? The colour, vibrancy? The explanations? The musical score adding to the atmosphere?

11. The variety of stories, the interconnections? Pro and con staying, Jean and her wanting to leave, Douglas and his decision to stay?

12. Evelyn, becoming a widow, talking things over with her children, phoning them from India, their reading her blog? First time on her own? Her delight in India, with the people, applying for the job, getting it, the lesson on how to answer the phone, the details and the sensitivity, the phone answerers all listening? The manager, his sister and her working there, at the hotel, with each of the guests, the friendship with Douglas, his attention to her, his decision to stay – and the final scene on the back of the bike?

13. Douglas and Jean, their home, leaving, the ideal in India, Jean and her reactions, stuck in the hotel, her fears and suspicions, the attraction towards Graham, going out, flirting with him, discovering the truth, her embarrassment? The clashes with Douglas? Her inability to be at home in India? Everything irking her? Going to the airport, the feast and their being stuck in the traffic, only one person able to go – Douglas urging her to go, her leaving? Douglas and his curiosity, going out, discovering the antiquities, history, his visits? His comfortable talking with Evelyn? The fights with Jean, his decision to stay, the bike?

14. Muriel, cranky, bigoted, her outlandish racist remarks, xenophobic? The doctors? The operation, her decision to go to India? Cantankerous, her own biscuits and food, her maid, the reactions? The operation and its success? The maid helping her? Despite her crankiness? The maid as Untouchable? Her agreeing to visit the house, her being made welcome, having to adapt – not always graciously? Awkward? Her gradual change, getting better in health, her experience as a nanny, managing the household, her being let go, her reaction, her taking charge, her managing of the hotel?

15. Norman, the old roué, his intentions, behaviour, talk, sexuality, the Kama Sutra? Flirting? With Madge? His meeting Carol, their discussions, the bond, the relationship? His collapse – but not dying? His staying?

16. Madge, the background of her family, husbands, new opportunities, her style, going to the club, pretending to be Princess Margaret, with Norman? Conniving with him? Friendship with Carol, the setups? Friendly with the other members of the group? The ending and her dating?

17. Graham, as a judge, the party, his being irritated, leaving, the decision to go to India, his experience there as a child, his motives? His memories? His relationship with young man, the families and their reactions, his leaving India, not having any contact? Jean and her attentions, his explaining that he was gay? The bureaucracy, trying to find the address? Getting the information, finding his friend? The reaction, his friend and his life, wife and family, joy in seeing Graham again, the communication? The wife? Graham and his achieving his goal, discussions with Evelyn, his collapse and death?

18. The call centre, the girl, modern, on the bike, the sexual relationship with Sonny, the reaction to Sonny’s mother? The brother and his protectiveness?

19. The contrast with Muriel’s maid, the Untouchables, the family gathering, the hospitality? Muriel and her heart being touched? The affirmation of the maid?

20. Sonny’s mother, snobbery, her own marriage, disappointment, the success of her other children, wanting to sell the hotel, confronted by Muriel? Consenting?

21. A feelgood film – and audiences feeling better? An anti-ageism film?