THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL: An Uplifting Delight

I have to admit, I was a little excited to see that a sequel had been made to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. I had liked it and was curious as to what had happened to the characters. But what is more, I went to see the first film with my grandmother and I knew how much she and her friends liked it. So, ultimately, I was pleased that another film was being made for my grandmother’s age group. It was only right, then, that I saw this sequel with my parents, in a cinema full of people just like them. A cinema full of 50+ year olds who had made the effort to come to the cinema and watch a movie made for them.

The Greats Of Britain

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a lovely film. This is thanks in no small part to the marvellous cast. Returning to the story are Muriel (Maggie Smith), Evelyn (Judi Dench), Madge (Celia Imrie), and Norman (Ronald Pickup) along with girlfriend Carol (Diana Hardcastle). Douglas (Bill Nighy) is also present, and thankfully without his wife Jean (Penelope Wilton). But in a boost to its already magnificent cast the film also stars Ty (David Strathairn), Lavinia (Tamsin Grieg) and most importantly, Guy (played by the still very delightful Richard Gere).

A great cast doesn’t always mean a great film. But the talent of these esteemed actors under the watchful eye of director John Madden is something wonderful to behold. They are deep into their characters, considering every emotion and facial expression, all the while employing the wit they know is necessary if their characters are to be entertaining and not pitied. In this sequel, the characters are all given their own particular emotional turmoil and the actors deliver it without fault.

While all the performances in this film are noteworthy, a few in particular stood out for me. Lillette Dubey is extraordinary as Sonny’s harsh but good hearted mother, Mrs. Kapoor. She displays, with great subtlety, all the marks of a woman suffering at the idea that she is no longer useful or desirable. Equally fine in his performance is Bill Nighy. For those who have not seen the first film, the character of Douglas developed something of a crush on Evelyn (Judi Dench). Their connection in this film is still unresolved, and the longing and devotion Bill Nighy presents on screen is wonderfully endearing.

But while the performances of these actors are truly great, the film would be nothing if not for Dev Patel. In this sequel, Sonny’s mission is to impress a company with whom he can create a second hotel. While Patel brings excellent comic timing to the role, it is the emotional strain behind his eyes that really adds credence to his character. Torn between being a businessman, a husband, and a good friend, he is complex and highly watchable.

A Collection Of Stories

The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is essentially a collection of stories. But while they fracture off into their different routes, their meanings are clearly all driving towards one point: you get older, but you don’t stop living, and you certainly don’t stop loving.

At the core of the film is Sonny, and his relationship with the seemingly ill Muriel is warm and genuine. Their story is about finding solidarity and respect in the most unlikely of friendships. Evelyn and Douglas’ story is also of paramount importance: theirs is about falling in love and taking risks long after you think the risk-taking is over. In a similar vein is the story of Mrs. Kappor (Sonny’s mother) and Guy. They have lost their sense of self and are learning to believe that they are of importance again.

The stories of Madge and her suitors, and Norman and Carol don’t make as large an impact as the others, but still reinforce the film’s theme of “it’s never to late.” In the background of all this is Sonny’s feelings of despondency at the hands of an old friend, who appears more attractive and more successful than him, and who he feels is a threat to his future happiness.

It is a great compliment to the screenwriter Ol Parker than such a fractured story can make so much sense. He has taken as his central story line the fairly straightforward story of Sonny, his ambition for a new hotel, and his future marriage, and around this has placed the other characters, and with them a number of deeper, more intense stories. This film is all about people looking for a purpose in their lives, and by treating the characters with the consideration he would have for twentysomethings, Parker opens our eyes to the fact that even when you get older, you don’t stop living.

The Beauty Of India

It is perhaps an obvious point, but one worth mentioning, that India is beautifully portrayed in this film. By focusing the action within such an attractive town, and with a story aimed squarely at an Indian wedding, Madden has opened up the film’s potential to be truly magnificent. The colors and the architecture make for good scenery, but also add energy and light to the film’s narrative. It is perhaps a great compliment to Ben Smithard (the cinematographer) that his camera serves up to us, as the audience, exactly what we need and when we need it. Comedic entrances and action shots are given their space, while we are drawn into the close-ups of the emotional scenes.

But it is in his management of the greater party scenes that Smithard really offers up something special. With Madden’s direction and Smithard’s cinematography in the final wedding scenes, the country of India and Indian culture itself really shine.

Not For Us, For Them

A lot of my talk may fall on deaf ears because, although I don’t want to presume, the majority of film reviews aren’t read by the people this film is made for. And here lies our problem. This film has no serious problems, but because it’s not made for the typical cinema-goer (most likely 18-35 year olds), we have one. I feel that perhaps people may judge this film unfairly, thinking it’s made for their grandmothers or for “old people” in general. This opens up a moment for a few life/film lessons.

Firstly, people of an older generation enjoy films as much as anyone else, and there are painfully few made with them in mind. If we don’t start dealing with this now we will find ourselves in the cinema, at the age of 80, watching twentysomethings doing the exact same things we knew weren’t realistic when we were that age. Secondly, older people are not boring, even if the world of film fiction seems to think that they are.

Despite the general consensus, we know that life doesn’t turn off once you get married and have kids. Perhaps it’s later rather than sooner, but things do change, you will change, and those changes are more interesting than anything a twentysomething Hollywood stereotype film can offer up. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is not only a great film in and of itself, but it flies in the face of all this thinking, and I admire it greatly for doing so.

Conclusion

I’m not going to tell you that The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is the best film ever. But what it is is a very interesting, entertaining and uplifting film. It is beautifully made, very funny, and leaves you with a feeling that life is worth living in it’s entirety. Life is not for giving up; it’s for pursuing, regardless of your age. This film offers up something authentic and real, and despite a sad note towards the end of the film, you are likely to be left feeling upbeat.

In the end what it comes down to for me is that my mother and grandmother liked this film, which may seem an odd conclusion to come to when you are supposed to be objective. But really, films are subjective, and while I can appreciate this film, I can’t understand it the way someone like my grandmother can. That is not to say that this film is not for me, because I still liked it very much. What I am really saying is that while I tried to understand this film and thought it was brilliantly made, there are other people out there that it is really meant for, and I bet they’ll find it even more amazing.

Have you seen The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel? Do you think there should be more films like this?

(top image source: Fox Searchlight Pictures)

https://youtu.be/sI–Szw-hM8