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Amazon.co.uk Review
Hotel du Lac is an impeccably produced BBC television adaptation of Anita Brookner's Booker Prize-winning novel. Middle-aged writer Edith Hope has fled London and romantic disappointment to find sanctuary at a luxury hotel on a Swiss Lake, but finding no escape from her loneliness must eventually face her past. Edith is played with compassion by Anna Massey, her intellect and wit acting as a defence against her own failings, and support comes from a superb cast including Denholm Elliott, Googie Withers, Julia McKenzie, Patricia Hodge, Irene Handl and Barry Foster.
Brookner's apparently slight but multi-layered tale is skilfully crafted by writer Christopher Hampton, who has with such films as Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and The Quiet American (2002) become a master of literary adaptation. Giles Foster's direction focuses on bringing the best from his cast, rather than attempting any sort of cinematic sweep, and Carl Davis' eloquent theme music makes the introspection all the more touching. Ultimately, though, it is Anna Massey's insightful central performance which makes Hotel du Lac such a memorable slice of television.
On the DVD: Hotel du Lac is presented in the original TV broadcast 4:3 ratio with a very poor, extremely grainy and soft picture. The sound is reasonable mono, clear and free from distortion though lacking in dynamic range. The only extra, though one well worth having, is a serious and highly informative commentary from Giles, Hampton and producer Sue Birtwistle. --Gary S Dalkin
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Commentary, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: A BBC TV adaptation of the award-winning novel by Anita Brookner, which vividly brings to life the characters and atmosphere of the elegant Hotel Du Lac. It is a production of wit, charm, and beautifully observed detail filmed amid the mountains and lakes of Switzerland. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: BAFTA Awards, ...Hotel du Lac
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
64 of 65 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you have ever had problems which needed to be sorted out this film shows you how to do it.
Anna Massey plays a romantic novelist. Although she creates characters for her books, she cant read real people and knows nothing about human nature.
The guests in the Hotel du Lac where she goes to escape, are anything but what she believes them to be...
All the characters are living un-real lives, Googie Withers as the overbearing mother, Denholm Elliot as the philandering wanderer, Patricia Hodge as the child longing wife and Irene Handel as the abandonded old lady are all brought to life by wonderful acting.
The location of the film, the Swiss Lakes in Autumn, gives the film a luminous quality that gradually overtakes everthing else.
This gentle film probes the depths of the human condition and over the course of her stay she learns what means the most in her life.
A wonderful film to curl up with on a Winters Evening......
75 of 77 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This, I consider to be a classic film, which each and every time I view, brings enourmous pleasure. The casting is impeccable. Irene Handl is remembered by her many comedy roles and this, I believe, was her first rerious role which she executes with aplomb. Denholm Elliot is excellent as a calculating divorcee, Googie Withers is superb as a wealthy widow and Julie McKenkie as her over indulged daughter. Patricia Hodge comes up with a performance quintessentially British upper class. Not only are we treated to this superb drama, but it is set partly in the most beautiful backdrop of lakeland Switzerland in the autumn in a luxury hotel.
40 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Lovely slow production, and very typical of mid-80's British TV. The "very poor" picture quality spoken of by another reviewer is a little misleading. At the time of production it was quite normal for BBC drama to be made on basically 16mm news film stock. This is what we have here in Hotel Du Lac. This DVD is the best quality that could exist, even striking a new print would not produce better results. If you are a British viewer you will recognise this "look" instantly, its not too bad and for me adds something.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A gentle tale
A story from a different era. Some beautiful Swiss scenery and some spoilt wealthy people trying to make out they are better and/or more wealthy than they are. Read more
Published 7 months ago by C. R. Osborn
Commendably brief 'Brits abroad' movie for bookish viewers
What Eddie Izzard called the "Room with a view and a staircase and a pond-type movie". Actually that's not really fair because this isn't really a film of meaningful silences and... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Philoctetes
Hotekl du Luc
Excellent film with first class cast. Has become a film classic. Super performance by Anna Massey. Can be strongly recommended.A film which one can enjoy repeatedly.
Published 9 months ago by Tom
A lovely story
I read the book before I bought the DVD and thoroughly enjoyed it so sent for the DVD. It tells an old fashioned story about a woman who is sent away to a hotel on the continent by... Read more
Published 9 months ago by patb
timeless
We watched this again after a break of many years and it was better than we remembered. Great characters even though they are not all likeable - watch with a glass of wine!
Published 9 months ago by AD - Kingston
Iconic Classic
I couldn't believe how long ago it was since this production was made. Although it seemed dated, it still held you, and the acting was as brilliant as you would expect from such an... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Coco
Hotel du Lac, by Anita Brookner.
Although Anita Brookner is not my favourite author,life is too short to get bogged down in her turgid ramblings, the book was bought as a present for my wife. Read more
Published 9 months ago by David Booth
Wonderful
I had heard of this film and it was always one of those things I would eventually get round to watching. Thank goodness I did! Read more
Published 10 months ago by Francis Webber
What a disappointment
I guess it is necessary to see some bad films in order to appreaciate the goods ones (but this was really bad). Read more
Published 11 months ago by Tim H
another gem from Amazon
I'm a sucker for this type of movie set in a European location with a superb cast, excellent acting and script, lovely setting
perfect to go in my collection along with... Read more
perfect to go in my collection along with... Read more
Published 12 months ago by M. watts
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