HOTEL DE LOVE

Australia, 1996, 96 minutes, Colour.
Aden Young, Saffron Burrows, Simon Bossell, Pippa Grandison, Ray Barrett, Julia Blake, Peter O’ Brien, Belinda Mc Clory, Alan Hopgood.
Directed by Craig Rosenberg.

A first film by Melbourne writer, Craig Rosenberg, that is romantic at heart (true love and commitment are important) but shows the comic side of confusion about love (and love at first sight) along the way. This is a film for 20 somethings, although there is a sub-plot about the central characters' parents, played by Ray Barrett and Julia Blake. Most of the action takes place in an extravagant, gimmicky hotel, where twin Aden Young is Manager and where twin Simon Bossell comes with their parents who are renewing their commitment (despite all bickering to the contrary). Comedy is often a matter of taste. Some have found this hilarious, some strained. I veered towards the strained. 20 somethings' comedy.

1.A “quirky” Australian comedy? The distinctive character of Australian humour, romantic, cynical, satirical? How well did they combine here?

2.The title, the romantic hotel, the variety of rooms? Niagara Smalls, the sports arena, the cheering crowds? The Garden of Eden, the fake foliage, the apple? The subterranean grotto? The piano and the songs and lyrics?

3.The romantic conceit: the twins, their falling in love with the same girl, the ten years passing? The remembering of love, the new opportunity? The happy ending for all?

4.Stephen telling the story at the airport, his waiting for Alison’s return? His own version of what happened?

5.Ten years earlier, Stephen and Rick, twins? Their distinctive characteristics? Stephen as the workaholic? Rick and his being less sensitive? The party, seeing Melissa? Melissa and the relationship with Rick?

6.Ten years passing, Rick and his working at the Hotel de Love? The manager? His girlfriend, Alison? Palm-reading? Reading Rick’s palm and telling him that he will break up, in fact with her?

7.Stephen, his ten years of hard work? His arriving with his parents? Jack and Edith? Thirty-two years, the scenes of their bickering? Edith with an admirer, writing notes? The revelation that this was Jack? Able only to communicate in writing, not by word of mouth? The plan for renewing their vows?

8.Melissa, arriving, her boyfriend, Norman? Norman and Melissa and their engagement? Their wondering about the marriage? Norman and his passivity? Melissa, meeting Rick and Stephen again? Memories of Rick, his stating that he was in love with her? Stephen telling her the same?

9.Melissa and Norman getting married, the failure of the marriage, the divorce, marrying Rick?

10.Stephen attracted to Alison, her having been at the party ten years earlier? Her decision to go to Spain? Stephen wondering whether she would return, meeting the planes? Her final return?

11.The engaged couple, their presence, in love, the contrast with Melissa, Norman and the brothers?

12.The piano player, genial, the songs, the lyrics, people asking his advice?

13.A satisfying romantic comedy – with Australian differences?