The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
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A group of British retirees travel to India to stay in an exotic retirement hotel, only to find themselves in a dilapidated site run by an inept manager.
The story
Several British retirees decide to move to Jaipur, India, to stay in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, advertised as an exotic retirement home. The group includes a widowed housewife, a retired High Court judge, a couple seeking an affordable retirement, a former housekeeper, a woman searching for romance, and an aging lothario. After an eventful journey, they discover the hotel is a dilapidated site run by the energetic but inept manager, Sonny Kapoor. As the residents navigate cultural changes and personal challenges, they must adapt to their new surroundings and the reality of their chosen retirement destination.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Several British retirees move to Jaipur, India, for the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Evelyn Greenslade, a widow, seeks to pay off her husband's debts; Graham Dashwood, a judge, returns to his childhood home; Jean and Douglas Ainslie seek affordable retirement; Muriel Donnelly seeks a hip operation; Madge Hardcastle seeks romance; and Norman Cousins seeks to relive his youth. They find the hotel is a dilapidated site run by Sonny Kapoor. While some residents struggle with cultural changes, others find connection. Graham confides his sexuality to Evelyn and seeks his long-lost lover, Manoj. They find him, but he is married. Graham later passes away peacefully. Jean and Douglas' marriage dissolves as Jean discovers their daughter's business has paid off. Sonny faces a falling out with his girlfriend, Sunaina, and considers closing the hotel. Evelyn encourages him to marry Sunaina, and they do so with his mother's blessing. Muriel convinces an investor to keep the hotel open and becomes deputy manager. The residents stay, with Carol moving in with Norman. The hotel flourishes, and Evelyn reflects on their new life.
- First release year
- 2011
- Runtime (minutes)
- 124
- Production countries
- United Kingdom; United States; United Arab Emirates
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Madden
- Writers
- Ol Parker · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Judi Dench · Evelyn Greenslade; Bill Nighy · Douglas Ainslie; Penelope Wilton · Jean Ainslie; Tom Wilkinson · Sir Graham Dashwood; Maggie Smith · Muriel Donnelly; Dev Patel · Sonny Kapoor; Celia Imrie · Madge Hardcastle; Ronald Pickup · Norman Cousins
- Genres
- comedy; drama
- Themes
- retirement; cultural adjustment; romance; aging
- Tone and mood
- heartwarming; droll; comedy-drama
- Premise and plot tags
- British retirees; India; retirement home; romantic comedy
- Source material / true-story basis
- These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach (2004)
- Franchise connections
- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
- Content notes
- LGBTQ-related
- Reception
- The film received positive reviews from critics and was a surprise box-office hit, ranking among the highest-grossing 2012 releases in several countries.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 62 · scale: 100 · review count: 35
- Production trivia
- The film was adapted into a stage play in 2022.; The site for the film hotel was an equestrian hotel which was originally the palace of a tribal chieftain.; The film was first shown at the Italian cinema trade show Le Giornate Professionali di Cinema in Sorrento on 30 November 2011.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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