Swinging Sixties and Over!

I have been wanting to go and see Hotel Marigold since I saw the first trailer at the cinema.

Also , yes I will publicly admit it, I read the article about it in Saga Magazine, well it’s out there now, can’t take it back, I was a closet Saga Reader but now the truth is out there. No, I don’t feel free and liberated I feel a bit ashamed and totally convinced it has sullied my reputation!!!!

Anyway, said article made me even more interested to see the film, it has a magnificent all-star cast, that reads like a Who’s Who of British Thespians, with the ability to convey nuance in a glance, no hamming types or masters of wooden performance here..

But more importantly they are all quality actors, including the young leads and the bit part supports, a really well-rounded ensemble piece. It was good to see Maggie not playing the upper crust role but whatever social strata she always delivers brilliant characterisation. Celia was cheeky with at time almost an echo of Acorn Antiques. Tom and Ron were solid as they always are and it was good to see Bill playing gentle and self-effacing for a change.

Anyway if you have ever complained about the outsourcing of Bank helpline services to India, this film takes it to the next level, outsourcing retirement care and hip replacement surgery to India.

The film is hilarious in places and heart rending in others but I highly recommend it and will probably pick it up on DVD later in the year.

It does come with a racist warning, because it accurately portrays the attitude of some white people, I’ve met a few myself who have said exactly what’s in the script. What makes it OK is that there is a learning process and shows that, even in old age, change for the better is possible.

It also touches on the issue of arranged marriage and the Indian caste system.

It is in the end a feel good movie without being sugar sweet.

Grumpy moan from the cinema was that it was free seating and not many people, so lots of space, but a young couple came and sat one seat away from me and she was playing on facebook, yes, that how close she was I could see it. I was patient but when she was still doing it at the start of the main feature, yes, after the cinema had reminded everyone to turn off phones, I was forced to ask her to switch it off. No, of course she didn’t apologise, but she did put it away without comment.

Funniest moment before the film started , remember its free seating and an empty cinema, so voices carried, woman examining her ticket and telling her companion, possibly daughter, she was looking for seat 12A, embarrassed  companion, sotto voce, "12A is the film certification"!!!!