Hotel

Colour, 35 mm
Austria, Germany, 2004, 82 min
Section: Horizons

Synopsis

Irene takes a job as receptionist at a large isolated hotel in the Austrian Alps. She finds out that Eva, who worked there before her, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Her colleagues speak evasively of Eva and try to avoid close contact with Irene. The labyrinth of deserted hotel corridors, the impersonal room she inherited from her predecessor, the utter isolation from the world outside, and the lack of communication - all this causes the sensitive girl to fall still deeper into feelings of alienation and fear. She starts a relationship with a youth called Erik, whom she meets by chance, but this does not bring her the relief she requires. Not even the religious faith in which she was raised helps her. Irene identifies with Eva more and more, and on her walks (both day and night) she goes deeper and deeper into the dense, surrounding forest. Its mystic centre is a sinister local attraction - the cave of the Forest Fairy.  

About the director

Jessica Hausner (b. 1972, Vienna) studied direction at the Vienna Film Academy. She gained attention with the short Flora (1996), which won prizes including an award at the Locarno IFF. Her graduating film, Inter-View, was awarded the Special Jury Prize at Cannes in 1999. Two years later she made her feature debut with Lovely Rita which was entered in the section Un certain regard at Cannes, won an award in the Viennale 2001 and was screened at Karlovy Vary IFF. Her second feature offers an original twist on the classic thriller setting of the mystical forest. Hotel again attracted attention at Cannes in Un certain regard.