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Year of release: 2011
Director: John Madden
Writers: Ol Parker (screenplay), Deborah Moggach (novel)
Starring: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Maggie Smith, etc.

For more information on “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”, visit Wikipedia and/or IMDb

 

General impression:
This movie can do for you a little bit of what the exotic getaway to India does to the characters. It’s about a bunch of British retirees who, far from the comfort of their home, have to deal with their baggage. Each one has to move on in some way, and life in India will be the catalyst for change. I loved the fact that it all happens naturally, and there are no exaggerations, no artificial drama added to the behavior of the characters. Their western life gets stripped of walls, patterns, expectations, rules, and in this simple, raw state of living, they open up, become more sincere. Then, following their hearts becomes the natural next step in their lives, something they probably wouldn’t have considered back home, at their age. And this is what makes this story beautiful 🙂

Highlights:
It’s realistic in surprisingly heartwarming ways.

Downside:
What worked for Dev Patel in “Slumdog Millionaire”, works against him in this movie.

Would I see it again? – Yes, someday

My Rating (1 to 10): 8.5

Recommended: Yes

Suggestion:
I think it’s a good choice for this time of the year.