L'hôtel de la plage (1978) User Reviews

Fun Happy French Far

[digi-6 · 7/10 · 23 January 2005]

I think this is a great film. I have had a copy since it was broadcast on the BBC in 1980. The copy has now migrated to DVD & been cleaned up on the way. I last saw a copy on VHS at FNAC in Paris in 1998, it certainly did not make DVD. It is a warm French farce with a happy ending & all you could expect from a bunch of french families on holiday for the month of August in a Brittany hotel on the beach. The acting is good and the director really captured the french attitude to food, family, drink, and holidays. The month of August is the month that ninety percent of families take off & in this film there is a very interesting bunch of characters and there are several threads to the plot of the movie, all of which run their course & tie up at the end. I have seen some of the cast since in other movies, but in this film the interplay between the characters is excellent. I still watch this film every year.

Fantastic French Farce.

[bluf483 · 8/10 · 30 June 2006]

I saw this film years ago on the BBC late on a Saturday night. I at school and learning French and though the content was something a little risqué for a 13 year old I was allowed to stay up and watch it. I loved it though not quite sure if I fully understood it then. It really is a wonderful seaside romp with the main pastime being everyone trying to get off with everyone else. It may sound a bit sordid, but it is anything but. It is funny, tasteful and a great way of spending 90 minutes or so. The character interactions and story line just flow in a seamless way, taking the viewer along on the ride. The BBC seemed to repeat it every summer during their 'Foreign film season for a good few years: for me and my school friends it became a summer favourite. Recommended for students of French and The French.

25 years ago and still remember some of the gags..

[benjaminknox · 28 June 2004]

Hi I saw this film late one night with my parents and sisters. I don't think any of us expected it to be what it was, as I recall, and i was only 13 when i saw it ( first and last time too) but I do remember laughing my **** off all the way through it. Now obviously for a 13 year old I probably missed the proper jokes and only saw the sight gags ( as it was not even subtitled as I recall). But one which came to mind recently was when Shell on the current Big Brother (UK) show was cooking and turned around to show that she has no keks on under her chefs apron....much laughter in the house, but it brought to mind a similar scene in Hotel De La Plage when one of the lads is doing the BBQ on the beach(?)does the whole scene and then last minute, turns around and hey presto, no keks......now that..to a 13 years old was damn funny!

I'd love to see this film again, but no-one ever knows what the hell I'm talking about....

Read the summary by j hailey as it sums it up really well, it's a really good french farce with a very summery feel good factor.

Be nice to see it again at 39..