part 3 of the low-level commitment to the italian film festival
richard e grant the main inspiration to take the time for this one
he making it appealing to spend some (virtual) time in 5 star hotels
irene's job as a mystery guest hotel inspector takes her world-wide
the opening scenes of her methodically checking out a luxury room
gloves on, white clothing, a laptop being used to record observations
very sharp directing going on - many changes of angle and proximity
impression being that the sumptuousness of the film matches the hotels
oops - an errant napkin found under the bed - failure with a capital f
irene next berating the hotel manager thus proving her credentials
exits the chic hotel, into a luxury taxi and disappears into paris
next back home somewhere in italy and settling in there
a sparse apartment and only sign of life a photo of 2 nieces
dinner dug out of the freezer, cooked and eaten with a beer
so a very deliberate contrasting of professional/personal life
next an outing with her doting nieces and 'normal' sister and hubby
he an obsessive though struggling classical musician - she a busy mum
more pushing of the concept that irene leads an average life outside work
including an amicable and close friendship with her love of 15 years prior
a bit of a shock for both to find out his latest fling is pregnant with his baby
but then back into the fray - more scenes of her living up the 5-star life
an attempt at hooking up with a single man in marrakech fails badly
he unexpectedly announcing he is totally married and totally faithful
so another reminder of her envious but lonely professional lifestyle
it's all very slick - short, sharp scenes all very nicely filmed/edited
berlin of particular appeal to me - many places seen in a recent trip
and a very modern soundtrack mixed in too so that also absorbing
a spa scene in a hotel in berlin and irene conversing with a lady guest
she an english commentator on women's issues in town for a tv show
that show then part of the film with irene watching on respectfully
but irene then stood up for a pre-arranged breakfast next day
adding to irene's growing sense of loneliness and abandonment
but seems the lady had a heart attack overnight - so yet another jolt
the tipping point for irene and then an attempt for some reconnection
an ill-advised one-night stand with her ex causing all manner of drama
her sister also tired of irene's intinerant lifestyle and lack of reality
final scene - they on the phone - irene announcing a major change
off to tanzania to teach children at a remote village - 'just kidding'
actually off to shanghai to use up some air miles and a holiday
finito - yeah not too bad - not mind-blowing but pretty good
technically excellent - filming, editing, soundtrack, etc
moral of the story - money don't buy you happiness
...or something like that...nice hotels though...
