Hotel Sorrento is a 1995 Australian drama film directed by Richard Franklin. Three sisters reunite in the sleepy Australian town of Sorrento after a ten-year hiatus.[1] One of the three has written a book called Melancholy which is a thinly disguised version of their lives. The film is an adaptation of Hannie Rayson's 1990 play of the same name.[2]
| Hotel Sorrento | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Richard Franklin |
| Written by | Peter Fitzpatrick Richard Franklin |
| Based on | Hotel Sorrento (play) by Hannie Rayson |
| Produced by | Richard Franklin |
| Starring | Caroline Goodall Caroline Gillmer Tara Morice |
| Cinematography | Geoff Burton |
| Edited by | David Pulbrook |
| Music by | Nerida Tyson-Chew |
| Distributed by | Umbrella Entertainment |
Release date |
|
Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
"One of the film's many fleeting reflections is an exploration of the word "melancholy" - a word that perfectly suits Hotel Sorrento's tone and pace."[3]
Cast
edit- Caroline Goodall as Meg Moynihan
- Caroline Gillmer as Hilary Moynihan
- Tara Morice as Pippa Moynihan
- Joan Plowright as Marge Morrisey
- Ray Barrett as Wal Moynihan
- Nicholas Bell as Edwin
- Ben Thomas as Troy Moynihan
- John Hargreaves as Dick Bennett
- Dave Barnett as Radio Announcer
- Peter O'Callaghan as Radio Announcer
- Jane Edmanson as Radio Announcer
- Bill Howie as Radio Announcer
- Sam Newman as Football Commentator
- Shane Healy as Football Commentator
- Phillip Lee as Auctioneer (voice)
Production
editRichard Franklin had worked for a number of years in the US, although he had lived in Australia since 1985. He was becoming frustrated with Hollywood and decided to make a film for the "art house market". He contacted his brother in law, Peter Fitzgerald, who had written a number of books on Australian theatre and asked him to recommend an Australian play which might make a good film. Fitzpatrick put forward Hotel Sorrento and Franklin loved it.[4] He made the movie having never seen a production of the play.[5]
Critical reception
editThe New York Times said that "The film is steeped in a homey provincial atmosphere that is at once comforting and stifling, and that gives some substance to the talk about the complacency and materialism of Australian society and its indifference to artists."[1] Cinephilia said "The play by Hannie Rayson, with its familiar typology of characters and Chekovian dialogue, no doubt provided pleasing entertainment in its original stage setting but as adapted by Franklin with Peter Fitzpatrick and transposed the big screen this story of a fraught family reunion of sorts looks like soapie material blown out of proportion (Meg’s line "I’m looking for Dick" is pure Number 96, albeit unintentionally so)."[6]
Accolades
edit| Award | Category | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| AACTA Awards (1995 AFI Awards) |
Best Film | Richard Franklin | Nominated |
| Best Direction | Nominated | ||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Peter Fitzpatrick | Won | ||
| Best Actress | Caroline Goodall | Nominated | |
| Caroline Gillmer | Nominated | ||
| Best Supporting Actor | Ray Barrett | Won | |
| Ben Thomas | Nominated | ||
| Best Editing | David Pulbrook | Nominated | |
| Best Original Music Score | Nerida Tyson-Chew | Nominated | |
| Best Sound | James Harvey | Nominated | |
| Glenn Newnham | Nominated | ||
| Roger Savage | Nominated | ||
| Gareth Vanderhope | Nominated | ||
| ASM Award | Best Original Music for a Feature Film | Nerida Tyson-Chew | Won |
| FCCA Award | Best Music Score | Won | |
| Tokyo International Film Festival | Tokyo Grand Prix | Richard Franklin | Nominated |
Box office
editHotel Sorrento grossed $1,215,478 at the box office in Australia.[7]
Home media
editHotel Sorrento was released on DVD by Umbrella Entertainment in September 2012. The DVD is compatible with all region codes and includes special features such as the trailer, audio commentary with Richard Franklin and a featurette titled Inside Hotel Sorrento.[8]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Holden, Stephen (26 May 1995). "Hotel Sorrento (1995)". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ "Hotel Sorrento". Answers.Com. n.d. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ Buckmaster, Luke (18 December 1999). "Hotel Sorrento (1995)". In Film Australia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ Richard Franklin, "Returning Home", Cinema Papers, June 1995 p24-27,57
- ^ "Interview with Richard Franklin", Signet, 15 September 1995 Archived 1 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine accessed 18 November 2012
- ^ "Hotel Sorrento". cinephilia. n.d. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ "Film Victoria - Australian Films at the Australian Box Office" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 February 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2010.
- ^ "Umbrella Entertainment". Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.