CINEMA

“The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” is a new movie by John Madden, a director known for such films as “Shakespeare In Love” and “Killshot.” Based on Deborah Moggach’s 2004 novel “These Foolish Things,” this comedy/drama is centered on a group of British retirees staying in a hotel for the elderly in India.

The group is enticed by advertisements about a newly restored hotel, which promises them a lot of luxury at a much more attractive price than they could get in their home country. But when they arrive, it becomes clear that the place is much less luxurious than the advertisement described it. However, as the retirees begin to get used to the new environment, they also find some unexpected charm in the hotel. And their shared experiences prove to be unique and meaningful, while saying goodbye to the past allows the characters to rediscover many things in life.

The film’s cast features, among others, Judi Dench, Celia Imrie, and Bill Nighy.

The critical reception of “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” has been generally favorable.

“A sunny but shrewd musing, it offers an oft-ignored section of the cinema-going audience a delightful hit all their own,” wrote a reviewer for The Sydney Morning Herald.

“We’re used to depressing news stories about old people being treated with disrespect, so it’s a treat to see a feelgood movie in which elderly heroes triumph over adversity – and their own pessimistic expectations,” added a writer for The Daily Mail.