I think we all feel "fairy tales" are sweet, uplifting, moralistic ends to make children smile. But when one looks at the actual stories to many of these tales, they are often very violent, traumatic, and sad. Big bad wolves to broken eggs. Ruined houses to murdered grandmothers. And this movie exemplifies it all to surreal levels. Starting off with a young couple who meet while working the summer at the hotel, they fall in love and plan to make their own hotel with their new family. As the children grow (or not in some cases), they experience puberty, bullying, and losses in the family. Yet the more dire situations get, the closer the family is drawn together. And through their tragedies and ordeals come triumphs and success. But what exactly defines triumph and success? Peace, solitude, and happiness in the end. It sounds straight forward to explain it, but to see it is a whole different matter! It's the awkward comedy that's difficult to laugh at I find. As the family has a beloved old dog named Sorrow, with constant flatulence, Funny as it is, he's disturbing the guests at the hotel and is decided it best to put him down. Sad. But after, his remains are saved, and is planned to be stuffed to keep Sorrow in the family still. Nice. But in trying to conceal him while work is being done, he pops up at the most inopportune times. Frightening, sick, funny....? So the movie doesn't hold any punches. Foul language, rape, homosexuality, incest, murder, and death. Yet retains this innocent and naive adventure quality throughout. It's difficult to view time and again. But wonderful to think about after. And thus maybe all our lives are mere fairy tales?
Review of The Hotel New Hampshire
