Hotel Chevalier is a 2007 short film written and directed by Wes Anderson. Starring Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman as former lovers who reunite in a Paris hotel room, the 13-minute film acts as a prologue to Anderson's 2007 feature The Darjeeling Limited. It was shot on location in a Parisian hotel by a small crew and self-financed by Anderson, who initially intended it to be a stand-alone work.
Plot[]
| Spoiler Warning: The following contains important plot details of the entire film. |
In a hotel lobby, the concierge answers a phone call from a guest's room. Jack (Jason Schwartzman) lies on a hotel bed in a yellow bathrobe, watching the black-and-white American war film Stalag 17 and reading the newspaper. After ordering room service from the concierge in broken French, he receives a call from Rhett, his ex-girlfriend. She tells him she is on her way from the airport and asks for his room number. Despite objecting that he did not tell her she could come, Jack consents nevertheless. He then hurriedly attempts to tidy the room – pausing to play the opening bars of the song "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?" by Peter Sarstedt on his stereo system – and runs a bath.
Jack is again lying on the bed, now in a gray suit. Hearing a knock, he starts the song playing again before opening the door to Rhett (Natalie Portman). After staring at him for several seconds, Rhett breaks the silence by asking what music is playing. Receiving no response, she steps into the room and presents Jack with a bouquet of flowers. When she moves to kiss him on the mouth, he turns his head away and they embrace instead. He closes the door and asks how she found him; she replies that it "wasn't actually that hard". She moves around the room browsing through his possessions, brushes her teeth with his toothbrush and declines to take the bath he had run for her.
Stepping back into the bedroom, Rhett turns to face the man and confronts him, asking slowly "what the fuck is going on?" Jack motions for her to join him on the bed and at her prompting, he reveals in the ensuing conversation that he has been living in the hotel room for "more than a month", and that he had left to escape their relationship. They lie back on the bed looking at one another before being interrupted by the arrival of room service. Once alone again, the two kiss and Jack begins to undress Rhett. They have an uncomfortable exchange about not having slept with other people and when Jack notices bruises on her arm after undressing her further, Rhett chooses not to comment on them. Lying on top of him, she tells Jack that she does not want to lose his friendship, that she loves him and never meant to hurt him. He responds coldly that he "will never be [her] friend", but holds her when she embraces him. "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?" starts again and Jack offers to show Rhett his view of Paris.
Rhett is perched against an armoire, Jack approaches and covers her naked body with the yellow bathrobe, and the two move towards the window. After they step out on the balcony, Jack draws a toothpick from his pocket and hands it to Rhett with an upwards nod, which she reciprocates. After looking out for another few seconds she clasps his neck lightly and they step back inside.
Cast[]
- Jason Schwartzman as Jack Whitman
- Natalie Portman as Rhett
Reception[]
Hotel Chevalier, released in 2007, received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The short film, which serves as a prologue to Wes Anderson's feature film The Darjeeling Limited, was praised for its unique storytelling style and visual aesthetics. Critics lauded Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman for their performances, noting the chemistry between the two leads as they navigate the complexities of a romantic relationship. The film’s dialogue, characterized by its wit and charm, was highlighted as a strong point that reflects Anderson’s signature style.
The cinematography by Robert Yeoman received acclaim for its vibrant colors and careful composition, which perfectly captures the ambiance of a Parisian hotel room. The film's intimate setting and meticulous details contribute to its overall artistic merit. Reviewers appreciated the exploration of themes such as love, loss, and regret, which resonate throughout the brief encounter between the characters. The emotional depth and ambiguity of the story invite audience interpretation, adding layers to the seemingly simple narrative.
While the film is short, audiences responded positively to its concise narrative and visual storytelling, with many finding it a compelling companion piece to The Darjeeling Limited. Furthermore, Hotel Chevalier was recognized at various film festivals and received nominations for awards in categories such as short film and cinematography, further cementing its status as a noteworthy entry in Anderson's filmography. Overall, "Hotel Chevalier" is celebrated for its artistic approach and emotional resonance, reflecting Wes Anderson's distinctive voice and vision in cinema.