Movie Review- The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
There
has been a slow trickle of movies made for and about older adults and
seniors recently. These movies are a wonderful change of pace in that
they depict this age group in leading romantic roles – a nice
alternative from films of the past that showed the unpleasant side of
aging and later life challenges.
Recently, I watched The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, a low budget picture with major star attraction. The film is based on These Foolish Things
by Deborah Moggach and while it probably won’t win an Academy Award for
best picture, it sure does leave you with a smile on your fac
Seven seniors facing a crossroads
The film looks at seven seniors facing a crossroads. One woman is
left to pick up the pieces after discovering that her late husband’s
mismanagement of their money has left her in a financial crisis; two
lonely senior singletons set off in search of love and sex and an
unhappily married couple are forced to re-evaluate their relationship and self identity after becoming bankrupt. There is also an embittered, socially isolated bigot and a well respected high court judge who finally decides to face his dark past.
This random group of mismatched travellers somehow get thrown
together when they all wind up at the same rundown hotel in Rajasthan
India. Amidst the backdrop of a loud, chaotic and vibrant India, they
each learn how to cope with their personal issues which sets the stage
for the next chapter in their lives.
The most surprising character
For me, the most surprising person is played by Tom Wilkinson. The
character is a renowned figure in the legal world and viewers may be
surprised at his story and the path he takes in the film. What is so
refreshing is how matter-of-fact the character is about his personal
life choices as an older man. When he is able to rid himself of shame
and guilt, the end result is a beautiful and romantic emotional tragedy
for the viewer.
The movie is full of optimism and passion. It’s about self discovery
and understanding your true worth. It’s about facing obstacles and
overcoming them. And it’s about finding love when you’ve given up all
hope.
It doesn’t matter how old you are to relate to this film. Life throws
curve balls and you need to figure out how to handle each mess that you
find yourself in. On the bright side, you also need to celebrate your
own victories, no matter how small.
Looking for love
We’re all looking for love and companionship.
We all want to feel good about ourselves. We all seek companionship
from lovers and friends. To feel loved, to belong, to feel valued and
respected—these are things that we can sometimes lose along the way as
we make our way through the world. But we continually seek them out
because these are what make us human and bind us to others.
By Michele Cauch, Executive Director, SageHealth Network
Published in Comfort Life Magazine http://www.comfortlife.ca/blog/review-the-best-exotic-seniors-movie-8068/
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