W. Anderson, S. Zweig and T. Mann

Rating: 9/10 (4 April 2014)

In "The Grand Budapest Hotel" director Wes Anderson creates a fictional Central European world of his own. Just like the house in the Tennenbaums every aspect of this world really is a marvel on screen. The hotel, the prison, the wonderful characters and the slapstick comedy. Each shot resembles the same aesthetic qualities of the Mendl's pastry.
The monastery and subsequent ski chase scenes- also great work by A. Desplat- stand out and are just marvelous. Some have criticized the film because " though very stylish it has no story, nor 'real characters' underneath". This is simply not true. The Grand Budapest is a beautiful homage to the works and life of the Austrian - or should I say European- writer Stefan Zweig. Just like Zweig, Gustave H.- a sublime R. Phiennes- has become somewhat of an anachronism in an increasingly changing world. A world where the brutality of the ZZ get's the upper hand. But M. Gustave is a man of principle he refuses to fold which ultimately leads to his death. A 'destiny' he shares with the admirable S. Zweig. This story drives the film and is all but superficial.
PS: For those who can't get enough of Mr. Gustave, I recommend reading 'Felix Krull' by the wonderful German writer Thomas Mann (a friend of S.Zweig). The main character (Felix) is very reminiscent of M. Gustave. Actually with a bit of imagination Mann's Felix Krull could well be a 'prequel' to the Gustave H.character in 'the Grand Budapest Hotel'.