I am excited to see this movie. It comes out here this week. I found a theater where its showing and I plan to see it on Saturday and go for an Indian Curry afterwards. Perhaps I will even wear a gardenia in my hair.
from Wikipedia:
British retirees travel to India to take up residence in what they believe
is a newly restored hotel. Less luxurious than its advertisements, the Marigold
Hotel nevertheless slowly begins to charm in Unexpected ways.
A group of seven British retirees have outsourced their retirement, attracted
by the less expensive and seemingly exotic India. They are enticed by
advertisements about the newly restored Marigold Hotel and given false dreams of
a life of leisure. They arrive at the hotel to find that it is not as
advertised; and, although the new environment is less luxurious than imagined,
the retirees are profoundly transformed by their subsequent experiences.[2] The travellers include
Evelyn (Judi Dench) a
recently-widowed housewife forced to sell her home due to huge debts, Graham (Tom
Wilkinson), a high court judge who was raised in India, Jean (Penelope Wilton) and
Douglas (Bill Nighy), a retired couple
who lost their life savings after Douglas invested them in their daughter's
internet start-up, Muriel (Maggie Smith) a retired
housekeeper travelling to India for an inexpensive hip replacement despite
her racist views, Madge (Celia Imrie), a wealthy
woman looking for (another) husband, and Norman (Ronald Pickup), an aging
Lothario still on the make for one-night stands.
Having arrived in Jaipur only to discover their
connecting flight has been canceled, Graham arranges for the group to be taken
by bus and tuk-tuk overnight to
the hotel. However, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, run by the extremely
enthusiastic Sonny (Dev Patel), is not what the
seven retirees expect, as the phones are out of order, the building is
dilapidated, and the Indian food is not what they are used to.
Jean is reluctant to explore the new culture and relate to her fellow guests (apart from Graham, due mainly to his former position as a High Court judge) and spends most of her time inside the hotel reading. Douglas, on the other hand, explores the city, visiting the sights that Graham recommends. Meanwhile, Graham disappears each day without telling of his destination.
Muriel has her scheduled operation and is told that, as soon as she can walk, she can return home. Despite her racism, she is grateful to her doctor and grudgingly admits his team's success with her operation. Then, recognizing the kindness of the hotel cleaner, Muriel tries to reciprocate with help but is told by Graham that the girl speaks no English and that she is a member of the "untouchable" caste (also known as "Dalits"), a social status that persists even though the title is an anachronism.
Evelyn finds herself a job as cultural adviser to a call centre, helping the phone operators to bond with their callers and to appear less rude and robotic. This is the first job she has had in her life, a fact that she shares with Douglas; she also tells him that, without the paycheck, she could not afford to stay at the hotel, "even at Sonny's prices".[citation needed] She also begins a blog chronicling her adventures.
Sonny, the hotel owner, finds himself in financial trouble as he struggles to get monetary support from a local businessman. However, he gradually tries to improve the hotel, starting with the repair of the telephones.
Madge decides that the way to find herself a rich boyfriend is to join an exclusive club; and, after failing to pass herself off as Princess Margaret, she is introduced to a rich, single man by the bartender. The man turns out to be Norman who has been more successful with his subterfuge.
Having been invited to the home of the hotel cleaner, Muriel and her doctor-cum-translator spend an awkward afternoon in the woman's house. Muriel is forced to eat some Indian food for fear of offending the woman but manages to upset the whole family after she begins shouting at some children in the street who are playing on her wheelchair. She later apologizes to the cleaner, offering her some chocolate hobnobs as a peace offering, and tells her that she spent her entire adult life as a housekeeper before being abruptly dismissed from the family she had served for years.
Graham confides in Evelyn that his daily disappearance involves a visit to the records office, in hope of finding an old friend with whom he shared a gay relationship as a young man. Jean, who is still dismissive of Indian culture, follows him to the office; she tries to make a pass at him and is humiliated when he tells her that he is gay. With the support of Douglas and Evelyn, Graham tracks down his old friend; and the two are able to talk for the first time since Graham left India at age 18. The next morning, having returned to the hotel, Graham dies peacefully of a heart attack. Evelyn writes in her blog that he had a heart condition and came to India knowing he would not be returning home.
Frequenting their club, Norman and Madge encounter Carol (Diana Hardcastle), an English woman who has lived in India her whole life; when Norman finally admits that he is just old and lonely, she says that she is, too: the two begin a relationship.
Sonny has his own problems. His two, more successful, brothers each own a third of the hotel and want it knocked down, while his mother wants him to return to Delhi to meet his bride-to-be. But Sonny is madly in love with the beautiful Sunaina (Tena Desae), who works for her brother at the call centre.
After Graham's cremation, Evelyn confides in Douglas, to whom she has become very close, just how empty her marriage was. Upset, she bursts into tears and he comforts her, which is witnessed by an increasingly jealous Jean. The couple fight and after Jean insults Evelyn the patient Douglas finally loses his temper and admonishes her for her negativity and lack of respect. Jean reveals that their daughter has returned their life savings and they can return to England.
Sonny's mother has decided to close the hotel due to lack of funding; but Muriel, hearing of Sonny's troubles, sneaks onto his computer for a look at the accounts, which she then takes to the businessman who has cut his funding. The residents are told that they must relocate—Norman decides to move in with Carol, while Madge and Evelyn decide to leave. As Jean and Douglas leave the hotel in a taxi for the airport, Evelyn hides in her room; she cannot bring herself to say goodbye to Douglas, Caught in a carnival-induced traffic jam, Jean and Douglas find a cycle rickshaw to take them to the airport; but they are told that it can take either two people and no luggage or one person and luggage. Jean takes this as a sign and leaves India without Douglas, who returns to the hotel.
The next morning, Sonny and Sunaina confront Sonny's mother. Sonny tells her that he will marry Sunaina no matter what, and she finally concedes. Muriel announces that, having looked over the accounts and spoken to the businessman, she finds that the original plan for the hotel is very good; it simply requires better management. She suggests herself for the role of Assistant Manager and says that, together, she and Sonny can run the hotel well. Douglas returns to the hotel and arranges to meet Evelyn after work for tea. Madge, Evelyn, Norman and Carol decide that they will stay in the hotel with Muriel helping Sonny to run it.
The film ends with Sonny and Sunaina riding a Yamaha RX 100 along the street, passing Douglas and Evelyn who are riding a moped. Madge is in her club, being wined and dined by an Indian man; Norman washes socks as Carol reads the Kama Sutra in their room. Muriel is seen behind the front desk as Assistant Manager, welcoming guests.
Jean is reluctant to explore the new culture and relate to her fellow guests (apart from Graham, due mainly to his former position as a High Court judge) and spends most of her time inside the hotel reading. Douglas, on the other hand, explores the city, visiting the sights that Graham recommends. Meanwhile, Graham disappears each day without telling of his destination.
Muriel has her scheduled operation and is told that, as soon as she can walk, she can return home. Despite her racism, she is grateful to her doctor and grudgingly admits his team's success with her operation. Then, recognizing the kindness of the hotel cleaner, Muriel tries to reciprocate with help but is told by Graham that the girl speaks no English and that she is a member of the "untouchable" caste (also known as "Dalits"), a social status that persists even though the title is an anachronism.
Evelyn finds herself a job as cultural adviser to a call centre, helping the phone operators to bond with their callers and to appear less rude and robotic. This is the first job she has had in her life, a fact that she shares with Douglas; she also tells him that, without the paycheck, she could not afford to stay at the hotel, "even at Sonny's prices".[citation needed] She also begins a blog chronicling her adventures.
Sonny, the hotel owner, finds himself in financial trouble as he struggles to get monetary support from a local businessman. However, he gradually tries to improve the hotel, starting with the repair of the telephones.
Madge decides that the way to find herself a rich boyfriend is to join an exclusive club; and, after failing to pass herself off as Princess Margaret, she is introduced to a rich, single man by the bartender. The man turns out to be Norman who has been more successful with his subterfuge.
Having been invited to the home of the hotel cleaner, Muriel and her doctor-cum-translator spend an awkward afternoon in the woman's house. Muriel is forced to eat some Indian food for fear of offending the woman but manages to upset the whole family after she begins shouting at some children in the street who are playing on her wheelchair. She later apologizes to the cleaner, offering her some chocolate hobnobs as a peace offering, and tells her that she spent her entire adult life as a housekeeper before being abruptly dismissed from the family she had served for years.
Graham confides in Evelyn that his daily disappearance involves a visit to the records office, in hope of finding an old friend with whom he shared a gay relationship as a young man. Jean, who is still dismissive of Indian culture, follows him to the office; she tries to make a pass at him and is humiliated when he tells her that he is gay. With the support of Douglas and Evelyn, Graham tracks down his old friend; and the two are able to talk for the first time since Graham left India at age 18. The next morning, having returned to the hotel, Graham dies peacefully of a heart attack. Evelyn writes in her blog that he had a heart condition and came to India knowing he would not be returning home.
Frequenting their club, Norman and Madge encounter Carol (Diana Hardcastle), an English woman who has lived in India her whole life; when Norman finally admits that he is just old and lonely, she says that she is, too: the two begin a relationship.
Sonny has his own problems. His two, more successful, brothers each own a third of the hotel and want it knocked down, while his mother wants him to return to Delhi to meet his bride-to-be. But Sonny is madly in love with the beautiful Sunaina (Tena Desae), who works for her brother at the call centre.
After Graham's cremation, Evelyn confides in Douglas, to whom she has become very close, just how empty her marriage was. Upset, she bursts into tears and he comforts her, which is witnessed by an increasingly jealous Jean. The couple fight and after Jean insults Evelyn the patient Douglas finally loses his temper and admonishes her for her negativity and lack of respect. Jean reveals that their daughter has returned their life savings and they can return to England.
Sonny's mother has decided to close the hotel due to lack of funding; but Muriel, hearing of Sonny's troubles, sneaks onto his computer for a look at the accounts, which she then takes to the businessman who has cut his funding. The residents are told that they must relocate—Norman decides to move in with Carol, while Madge and Evelyn decide to leave. As Jean and Douglas leave the hotel in a taxi for the airport, Evelyn hides in her room; she cannot bring herself to say goodbye to Douglas, Caught in a carnival-induced traffic jam, Jean and Douglas find a cycle rickshaw to take them to the airport; but they are told that it can take either two people and no luggage or one person and luggage. Jean takes this as a sign and leaves India without Douglas, who returns to the hotel.
The next morning, Sonny and Sunaina confront Sonny's mother. Sonny tells her that he will marry Sunaina no matter what, and she finally concedes. Muriel announces that, having looked over the accounts and spoken to the businessman, she finds that the original plan for the hotel is very good; it simply requires better management. She suggests herself for the role of Assistant Manager and says that, together, she and Sonny can run the hotel well. Douglas returns to the hotel and arranges to meet Evelyn after work for tea. Madge, Evelyn, Norman and Carol decide that they will stay in the hotel with Muriel helping Sonny to run it.
The film ends with Sonny and Sunaina riding a Yamaha RX 100 along the street, passing Douglas and Evelyn who are riding a moped. Madge is in her club, being wined and dined by an Indian man; Norman washes socks as Carol reads the Kama Sutra in their room. Muriel is seen behind the front desk as Assistant Manager, welcoming guests.
Jaypee group seems to have established their monopoly in the field of hospitality as far as leading luxury hotels in India are concerned. Talk about any creation of theirs and you will find luxury, beauty and supple ambience in every hotel and resort.
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