THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL (2014)

Summary:

Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel" is a meticulously crafted, visually stunning caper set in the fictional Republic of Zubrowka in 1932. The film follows the adventures of Gustave H., the legendary concierge of the titular opulent hotel, and his loyal protégé, Zero Moustafa, a newly hired lobby boy. Their lives are irrevocably altered when Gustave is framed for the murder of a wealthy, elderly patron, Madame D., and becomes embroiled in a frantic pursuit for a priceless Renaissance painting, "Boy with Apple," bequeathed to him in her will. This leads them on a thrilling journey of theft, prison breaks, ski chases, and a desperate search for a hidden second will, all against the backdrop of an impending war that threatens to dismantle their elegant, old-world existence.

The narrative is presented through a series of nested flashbacks, beginning with a modern-day girl visiting the grave of "The Author," who once chronicled the story of the hotel. The Author, in turn, recounts his 1968 encounter with the enigmatic, elderly owner, Zero Moustafa, who then narrates the central tale of Gustave H. and the hotel's golden age. Anderson's signature symmetrical framing, vibrant color palette, and whimsical storytelling are on full display, creating a poignant yet humorous meditation on memory, loss, and the enduring charm of a bygone era, ultimately exploring how a small act of kindness can echo through generations amidst the chaos of history.

Keywords: The Grand Budapest Hotel, 2014, Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, Wes Anderson, Comedy, Drama, Adventure, Caper, War, Memory, Loss, Eastern Europe.

Plot:

The story of "The Grand Budapest Hotel" unfolds through a captivating series of nested narratives, beginning in the present day with a young girl visiting the monument of "The Author." She reads his book, "The Grand Budapest Hotel," which transports us to 1985, where a younger version of The Author begins to recount his own experience. This leads us to 1968, where The Author, then a young man, checks into the dilapidated and nearly deserted Grand Budapest Hotel in the fictional, war-torn Republic of Zubrowka. He encounters the hotel's mysterious owner, an aging, melancholic man named Zero Moustafa, who invites The Author to dine with him and offers to share the true story of the hotel's glorious past and his connection to it.

Zero's tale begins in 1932, the hotel's golden age, when he arrived as a young, timid refugee and lobby boy, seeking employment. He is immediately taken under the wing of the legendary concierge, Monsieur Gustave H., a man of impeccable manners, fastidious charm, and an almost poetic dedication to his profession and his elderly, wealthy female clientele. Gustave is a connoisseur of fine things, literature, and, most notably, the art of seducing and comforting the hotel's aging, aristocratic guests. Zero, an orphaned refugee with no family, quickly becomes Gustave's loyal protégé, learning the intricacies of the hotel and the world through his mentor's unique perspective. Their bond forms the emotional core of the film.

One of Gustave's most devoted patrons is the incredibly wealthy, 84-year-old dowager countess Madame Céline Villeneuve Desgoffe-und-Taxis, affectionately known as Madame D. Following a particularly passionate rendezvous, Madame D. departs, only to die mysteriously a month later. Gustave and Zero travel to the reading of her will at her family estate, the imposing Schloss Lutz. There, they meet Madame D.'s avaricious and menacing family, led by her son, Dmitri Desgoffe-und-Taxis, and his brutal, psychopathic henchman, J.G. Jopling, identifiable by his distinctive knuckle-dusters. To the family's fury, the will bequeaths a priceless Renaissance painting, "Boy with Apple," to Gustave. Dmitri, convinced Gustave manipulated his mother, immediately dispatches Jopling to reclaim the painting. Under the cover of the ensuing chaos and outrage, Gustave and Zero swiftly steal the painting and hide it in a secret compartment in Zero's luggage.

Their triumph is short-lived. Gustave is soon framed for Madame D.'s murder, a crime actually orchestrated by Dmitri and Jopling, who also murder the family lawyer, Deputy Kovacs, to cover their tracks. Gustave is arrested and sent to a brutal, snow-bound prison. Zero, demonstrating unwavering loyalty, remains outside, determined to help. Inside, Gustave quickly befriends a group of hardened criminals, including the resourceful Ludwig, and plans an elaborate escape. Zero, with the help of his fiancée, Agatha, a baker at Mendl's, a renowned patisserie, smuggles in tools hidden inside exquisitely decorated "courtesan au chocolat" pastries. The escape is daring and successful, involving tunnels, ropes, and a dramatic leap into a waiting getaway car driven by Zero.

Now fugitives, Gustave and Zero embark on a perilous journey to clear Gustave's name and recover the painting. Their adventure takes them across Zubrowka, involving a thrilling ski chase down a treacherous mountain, an encounter with a surprisingly helpful monk, and a narrow escape from Jopling's relentless pursuit. They learn that Madame D. had a second, secret will that would supersede the first, disinheriting Dmitri and bequeathing her entire fortune, including the Grand Budapest Hotel, to Gustave. This crucial document is held by Serge X., Madame D.'s butler, who is now in hiding. After locating Serge X. at a remote monastery, he confirms the existence of the second will, but before he can reveal its exact location, Jopling brutally murders him by severing his head and pushing him off a cliff. Gustave, heartbroken by the loss of his friend and the apparent loss of the will, narrowly escapes Jopling's clutches with Zero's quick thinking.

As the political situation in Zubrowka deteriorates, war breaks out. The once-elegant Grand Budapest Hotel is commandeered by the military, transformed into a barracks. Despite the chaos, Gustave, Zero, and Agatha orchestrate a plan to retrieve "Boy with Apple" from its hiding place within the hotel. Agatha, disguised as a Mendl's delivery girl, bravely infiltrates the occupied hotel. She locates the painting, but Dmitri intercepts her, leading to a tense standoff and a chaotic shootout involving soldiers, Dmitri, and Gustave. Agatha, in a moment of quick thinking, manages to escape with the painting and, in the confusion, discovers the crucial second will hidden on the back of the painting itself, disguised as a certificate of authenticity. The will unequivocally names Gustave as Madame D.'s sole heir.

With the second will revealed, Gustave is exonerated and inherits Madame D.'s vast fortune, including the Grand Budapest Hotel. He becomes the new owner, and life briefly returns to a semblance of normalcy. Gustave and Zero continue their partnership, with Gustave fulfilling his dream of maintaining the hotel's grandeur. Zero marries Agatha, and they share a brief period of happiness. However, the war continues to rage. During a routine border crossing, Gustave is tragically killed by soldiers, leaving Zero as his sole heir. Zero inherits the Grand Budapest Hotel and the "Boy with Apple" painting, which becomes a cherished memento of his mentor and his lost love.

Back in 1968, the elderly Zero concludes his story to The Author. He explains that he maintains the dilapidated hotel not for profit, but because it was Gustave's world, and because it holds the memory of Agatha, who tragically died young from the "Prussian grippe" along with their infant son. The hotel, in its faded glory, becomes a poignant monument to a bygone era, to the extraordinary bond between a concierge and his lobby boy, and to the enduring power of love and memory amidst the devastating sweep of history. The Author departs, leaving Zero alone with his memories in the silent, echoing halls of the Grand Budapest, a testament to a world that once was.

Cast (Lead Roles):

• Ralph Fiennes as Monsieur Gustave H.
• Tony Revolori as Young Zero Moustafa
• F. Murray Abraham as Old Zero Moustafa
• Saoirse Ronan as Agatha
• Adrien Brody as Dmitri Desgoffe-und-Taxis
• Willem Dafoe as J.G. Jopling
• Tilda Swinton as Madame Céline Villeneuve Desgoffe-und-Taxis (Madame D.)
• Jeff Goldblum as Deputy Kovacs
• Edward Norton as Henckels
• Mathieu Amalric as Serge X.

Crew:

• Director: Wes Anderson
• Screenwriter: Wes Anderson (Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness)
• Producers: Wes Anderson, Scott Rudin, Steven Rales, Jeremy Dawson
• Cinematography: Robert Yeoman
• Editor: Barney Pilling
• Music: Alexandre Desplat
• Production Design: Adam Stockhausen
• Costume Design: Milena Canonero

Release Info:

• Original Release Date: March 7, 2014 (USA)
• Language: English, French, German
• Genre: Comedy, Drama, Adventure
• Running Time: 100 minutes
• Accolades: 4 Academy Awards (Best Original Score, Best Production Design, Best Costume Design, Best Makeup and Hairstyling), Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy.