Archive of films Hotel / Hotel

Austria / Germany
2004, 82 min

Section: Horizons
Year: 2004

The heroine of this mystically atmospheric thriller is the sensitive Irene, who takes a job as receptionist at a large hotel in the Austrian Alps. She finds out that her predecessor disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Feelings of loneliness work on her until she begins to succumb to the sinister magic of the forest which isolates the hotel from the surrounding world.


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

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.

Contacts

Austrian Films
Stiftgasse 6, 1070, Vienna
Austria
Tel: +43 1 526 33 23
E-mail: [email protected]
www: austrianfilm.com

Coproduction Office
24, rue Lamartine, 750 09, Paris
France
Tel: +33 156 026 000
Fax: +33 156 026 001
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.coproductionoffice.eu

About the film

Color, 35 mm

Section: Horizons
   
Director: Jessica Hausner
Screenplay: Jessica Hausner
Dir. of Photography: Martin Gschlacht
Editor: Karina Ressler
Producer: Antonin Svoboda, Philippe Bober, Martin Gschlacht, Susanne Marian
Production: coop 99 Filmproduktion, koprodukce / co-production: Essential Filmproduktion
Cast: Franziska Weisz, Birgit Minichmayr, Marlene Streeruwitz, Christopher Schärf
Contact: Austrian Films, Coproduction Office

Guests

Martin Schweighofer

Film Institution Rep.

YouTube

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