Hotel unter Sternen

The initial plot set-up for "Starlight Hotel" is virtually identical to that of an American film made two years earlier called "The Journey of Natty Gann". Greer Robson plays young Kate, whose father leaves New Zealand to find work during the Great Depression. After things don't quite work out with being left behind, she decides to find her own way out to meet him. This film isn't quite as well-realized as the aforementioned American production, but it's still an excellent watch for kids. There's two major highlights here - the first is Greer Robson (who I'd liked in "Smash Palace", made six years earlier) who gives a very engaging, natural performance. The second is the vivid and beautiful cinematography by Warrick Attewell.

The major, distracting downside is the music. Instead of making something a little more chronologically appropriate for a film set in the 1930s, Andrew Hagen and Morton Wilson composed a soundtrack full of echoey synths and tickling pop piano. It's rages above the soundtrack like a whore with hideous makeup. It's the only time I've ever heard music that was so bad it came close to sinking an entire film.

There's all the inherent improbabilities one might expect from an adventure story aimed at younger audiences, but it doesn't fly in the face of reality too much. None of the humor is cheap or easy. "Starlight Hotel" is generally a lighthearted film, and by extension, a rather lightweight one as well. I enjoyed a lot. You should too, especially if you watch it with children.

1930s New Zealand.

Really good film. Very atmospheric with some interesting cinematography.

A tale of an unlikely couple. One running away and one running to.

One thing I don't really understand is that the journey on the South Island gives the impression of being across and almost a barren and parched wasteland, which it isn't at all.

I remember see film along time ago on television. A young girl search for her father after he left her looking work in 1930's New Zealand. On her travels meet a man who helps poor families keeping their property, and is a fugitive from justice. All the performances are wonderful and the scenery in New Zealand is beautiful. I highly recommend watching this film. Something not to pass up to see.

The story is an odyssey, in which the director (Sam Pillsbury) airs his sense of social injustices, but in a reasonably gentle style (although the protest isn't gentle). The film also speaks to us in another age, far removed from depression era, post-WWI, New Zealand, though in fact, very little seems to have actually changed. After all, here in 21st century America, the poor are still being evicted and dumped onto the streets, soldiers are still send to fight and die for dubious (and fictitious) causes, while their veteran's benefits are slashed and their enlistment contracts are ignored. Far too many people must still seek medical help in charity institutions. Yet all the while we have to listen to the insufferable platitudes of officials declaring the wonders of the human condition in this great and wonderful land, while perhaps as many as 20 million American children will go to bed hungry tonight. Somewhere in this (not totally perfect) little treasure is a wry sense of humor between the embittered war-veteran (Peter Phelps) and the runaway teenage girl (Greer Robson, a great beauty, now a bit more grownup than the little girl who played the late and great Bruno Lawrence's daughter in "Smash Palace (1981)", now available on DVD). Their growing affection, in light of their mutual dependence on each other, provides the hint of a love story. I have always been very fond (sentimentally so, I admit) of this almost unknown little film. Unfortunately, now available only on previously viewed videotape, from private sellers (in the USA, see Amazon.com third-party sellers).

This is my all-time favourite film, and has been ever since I first saw it back in, I guess, 1990 or so.

From the first note of the music, I knew it was going to be special. I *adore* the soundtrack (music is a big part of films for me, and put me on the path to becoming a musician), the cinematography, the amazing countryside.

It's not particularly complicated in the script department, and actually is quite light on dialog, but it's charming, engaging and beautiful.

It's never going to happen, but I would really love a decent DVD release of this in stereo...

Update: Feb 2012.The New Zealand Film Commission have been buying up the rights to some NZ films for DVD release, and Starlight Hotel is one of them. It appears the DVD is now available from: http://www.screenline.co.nz/catalogue/index.php? main_page=product_info&cPath=1_20&products_id=378

Pal Region 4 release for now. Mine is ordered, and I'll update the review when it arrives.

So if you want to settle into a charming, delightful, innocent little coming of age tale, I can't recommend Starlight Hotel enough. My all-time favourite film. Ever.