Hotel Splendide

Running time: N/A

The Hotel Splendide is a dilapidated old wreck of a health resort, run by three rather unique siblings. Dezmond heads the eccentric staff of the resort, demanding a harsh--and decidedly unappealing--regimen that all guests must follow. Cora, the hotel's physical therapist, has the unpleasant job of keeping the guests' "biorhythms" flowing and administering the enemas. Ronald is the cook, keeping guests on a strict diet, insisting on boiling everything within an inch of its life. Over all of this, the matron of the family manages to keep a watchful eye on the hotel's residents, even though she's passed away. The routine, it is made very clear, has been established by her, and it is to continue unaltered in the event of her death. Into the mix comes Kath, the hotel's old cook, who left several years earlier under mysterious circumstances. While stirring the pot, she attempts to add a little spice to everybody's life by stepping back into the kitchen but finds that her gastronomical delights churned out wreak havoc with guests (and the hotel). A powerful cast, led by Toni Collette (The Sixth Sense and Muriel's Wedding), makes for a delightful, offbeat romp. Director Terence Gross' story of deliverance, friendship, family, and coming-of-age evokes Delicatessen and City of Lost Children, while maintaining a life of its own. Hotel Splendide is a quirky, crowd-pleasing comedy sure to delight filmgoers. --Sam Freund