Hôtel des Amériques (1981)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

André Téchiné

Writers:

Gilles Taurand (writer)
André Téchiné (writer)

Release Date:

2 December 1981 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Hélène, a distracted pill-popping anesthetist, almost runs down Gilles one evening on a Biarritz street...

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Catherine Deneuve	...	Hélène
Patrick Dewaere	...	Gilles Tisserand
Etienne Chicot	...	Bernard
Sabine Haudepin	...	Elise Tisserand
Dominique Lavanant	...	Jacqueline
Josiane Balasko	...	Colette
François Perrot	...	Rudel
Jean-Louis Vitrac	...	Luc
Frédérique Ruchaud	...	La mère
Michèle Ban de Loménie	...	La mère de colette
Pascal Bernuchon
Catherine Carrée
Gérard Deleris
Jacques Dichamp	...	Le client de l'hôtel
Rosemary Linousy	...	La clientèle inconnue
Jacques Nolot
Francine Rabas	...	La caissière
Catherine Rethi
Claude Saubot
Michel Sauvage	...	L'employé SNCF

Directed by
André Téchiné

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Gilles Taurand		writer
André Téchiné		writer

Produced by
Alain Sarde	....	producer

Original Music by
Philippe Sarde

Cinematography by
Bruno Nuytten

Film Editing by
Claudine Merlin

Production Design by
Jean-Pierre Kohut-Svelko

Costume Design by
Christian Gasc

Makeup Department
Jean-Pierre Berroyer	....	hair stylist
Jacky Reynal	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Christine Gozlan	....	production manager
François Menny	....	unit manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Martine Alleton	....	trainee assistant director
Bruno Boucher	....	third assistant director
Alain Centonze	....	assistant director
Michel d'Arcangues	....	trainee assistant director
Bernard Debargue	....	trainee assistant director
Maryse Morel	....	trainee assistant director
Charlotte Trench	....	assistant director

Art Department
Pierre Gompertz	....	assistant set designer
Geoffroy Larcher	....	set dresser
Jean-Marie Selle	....	set design trainee

Sound Department
Jean Duguet	....	foley artist
Paul Lainé	....	sound
Jean-Pierre Lelong	....	foley artist
Jacques Lévy	....	post-synchronisation
Jacques Maumont	....	sound mixer
Mario Melchiorri	....	foley artist

Camera and Electrical Department
Jean-Luc Bezeau	....	grip
Bernard Brégier	....	key grip
Gerard Buffard	....	grip
Franck Coquet	....	chief electrician
Gilbert Duhalde	....	assistant camera
Eugène Fabcic	....	best boy
Alain Fillon	....	gaffer
Idislawe Kielar	....	camera operator
Pascal Marti	....	camera operator
Christian Thurot	....	best boy
Serge Valézy	....	gaffer
Christian Weyers	....	gaffer

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Christiane Fageol	....	wardrober
Claire Fraisse	....	assistant costumer

Editorial Department
Jeanne Kef	....	trainee
Sylvie Quester	....	assistant editor

Music Department
William Flageollet	....	music engineer (uncredited)
Peter Knight	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
The London Symphony Orchestra	....	orchestra (uncredited)
Howard Shelley	....	musician: piano (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Raymond Borne	....	production driver
Roland Godard	....	production driver

Other crew
Michèle Andreucci	....	script supervisor
Agnès Chaulier	....	production administrator
Claude Davy	....	press relations
Jacques Delor	....	location manager
Louis Grau	....	general administration
Nicole Souchal	....	production secretary

Production Companies

• Sara Films
• Films A2

Distributors

• Parafrance Films (1981) (France) (theatrical)
• MK2 Éditions (2007) (France) (DVD)
• Studio Canal (2009) (France) (DVD)
• Cine Saison (1983) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Lions Gate Films (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Transpalux  electrical material

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Company:

Sara Films

Soundtrack:

Tchoo tchoo hold on the line

Sleepwalking through their roles...

Wow, did I have a bad night. I usually love French films and was excited to watch a DVD with two of Catherine Deneuve's films ("Le Sauvage" and "Hôtel des Amériques"). Amazingly, both of the films were among the least interesting films I have seen in some time--mostly because of the terrible writing. This is sad because one of the big reasons I usually prefer French films to recent Hollywood films is the writing, but in these two films they simply created characters that were hard to care about or understand.

Deneuve plays Hélène, a lady who obviously is in mourning for a dead lover. She can't get on with her life. However, when she meets Gilles (Patrick Dewaere), they become lovers--even though there really is absolutely no chemistry between them...none!

As for Gilles, he seems very moody and is good friends with a guy who loves to steal and beat up gay people. Now this could have been interesting, as this gay protest could have been an indication that Gilles and his male friend were lovers or harbored sexual feelings for each other. This may have turned off some viewers, but it really would have seemed plausible and interesting. Instead, however, you just assume that since Gilles likes such an evil man that he, too, is a jerk. And, through the course of the film, he does nothing to change that opinion. In fact, as the film progresses he gets moodier and moodier--until you are ready to shout at the screen for him to get over it and stop sulking and be a man!

Deneuve's character is rather interesting at first. The idea of her having all this emotional baggage and being constricted when it came to love was interesting. However, she is so distant and so moody that you wonder why Gilles puts up with her. Sure, he's pretty but this is the only thing he could see in her. Heck, their sex lives weren't even good...so why does he stay? And, why doesn't she either grow or simply reject him completely because she refuses to give in to love? Instead, she and the audience are stuck in limbo. While the movie is only 93 minutes long, it seems like a lifetime, as these two just exist and the relationship is stuck in neutral--and there is absolutely no coherent reason for them to be together in the first place or remain together.

Overall, impossible to believe and dull. I can think of many, many films Ms. Deneuve made that are better...and none, off the top of my head, that were worse.