I stumbled upon this movie by coincidence and was delighted by it but I am a bit puzzled by its low rating on IMDb. Maybe people just don't know how to categorize or appreciate Hotel Very Welcome as it is arguably one of a kind. At least, I don't recall any other 'real' backpacker movie (I hope we can agree The Beach, the Motorcycle Diaries, the Killing Fields and Hostel do not qualify). Having done my fair share of backpacking I've always wondered why there aren't more backpacker movies as it is an ideal vessel for storytelling: there's adventure, nature, culture, history, existentialism, humor, sex, drugs, alcohol... Plenty of material to make an interesting movie one would think. Without the need to spice it up with horror or hardcore drama. Mind you, I do think Return to Paradise was an excellent movie, but its merits do not originate from exploring ordinary backpacking situations. Hotel Very Welcome does just that: it portrays the backpacking experience in an honest, original, humoristic and genuine way. The acting and writing is truly outstanding and authentic - it sometimes almost gives you the feeling you're watching a documentary.
The choice to make this a mosaic movie, telling 5 different stories, that each highlights a different aspect of the backpacking experience, I find no objection at all. Each of the stories (some more than others though) are very well done and explore the reasons people backpack and the challenges (internal and external) they encounter in an original and humoristic way. The humor is quite subtle though and knowing a bit of German would be beneficial in appreciating that subtleness. The fact that these separate stories eventually not come together (in an Innaritu kind of way) or 'go somewhere' I find in no way problematic as another reviewer seems to argue. Each story has meaning in itself and as any backpacker would happily point out to you: "it's a journey, not a destination".
Highly recommended and if you're watching it on DVD: don't miss the Deleted Scenes. Great stuff as well.
The choice to make this a mosaic movie, telling 5 different stories, that each highlights a different aspect of the backpacking experience, I find no objection at all. Each of the stories (some more than others though) are very well done and explore the reasons people backpack and the challenges (internal and external) they encounter in an original and humoristic way. The humor is quite subtle though and knowing a bit of German would be beneficial in appreciating that subtleness. The fact that these separate stories eventually not come together (in an Innaritu kind of way) or 'go somewhere' I find in no way problematic as another reviewer seems to argue. Each story has meaning in itself and as any backpacker would happily point out to you: "it's a journey, not a destination".
Highly recommended and if you're watching it on DVD: don't miss the Deleted Scenes. Great stuff as well.