The Grand Budapest Hotel Essay Questions

What are some of the unusual elements of Wes Anderson's style of filmmaking and what effect do they have on the narrative?

The filming style is aesthetically unique in that shots are often symmetrical and centered in the frame. Additionally, Anderson makes rather theatrical tableaus, uses an intentionally limited color palette, and is very specific about costuming, makeup, and set dressing. All of these particularities make for a visual film world that seems one step removed from reality, creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere. In this way, the very specific aesthetic techniques that Anderson employs are not simply for show, but also serve to highlight some of the thematic layers of the film, such as its interest in the nature of storytelling. The ways that the film feels like a dream or a yarn, filled with a diverse range of styles and moods, reflects the fact that it is, indeed, an account, a memory, a story.

What and who inspired this film?

Wes Anderson and Hugo Guinness were inspired by the works of author Stefan Zweig. In particular they focused on his novella Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman and also the novel Beware of Pity and his autobiography The World of Yesterday. Anderson's adaptation is not a literal, faithful adaptation, however, but an impressionistic rendering of a certain relationship to storytelling. Interestingly enough, Zweig's work was an inspiration to many Hollywood figures. The films The Burning Secret, Fear, and Letter from an Unknown Woman are all based on Zweig's work.

What is Mr. Moustafa's reasoning for keeping the hotel?

At the end of the film, the author asks Mr. Moustafa if he kept the Grand Budapest Hotel in order to honor the memory of Gustave. Moustafa says that because they were in the same line of work, there was no need, and while he admires the incredible work of Gustave, the real reason he kept it was to honor the memory of his late wife, Agatha. In some ways, it is as though her death has arrested him in a moment in time, a moment that he is unable to give up, out of devotion to her.

How does Gustave prove himself to be an honorable man in the end of the film?

Throughout the film, Gustave is portrayed as somewhat shallow and superficial, concerned more with appearance and finery than he is with matters of substance. In fact, Gustave's concern with propriety and keeping up appearances is connected to his sense of doing what is right. At the end, their train is stopped by fascist death troops and Zero is chastised for being a refugee and not having the proper documentation. Gustave stands up for Zero, calling the soldier names and speaking on his protege's behalf, which ultimately gets him killed. While Gustave may seem not to be concerned with matters of any depth, when it comes down to it, he fights for what is right, and his interest in refinement and civilized behavior is connected to his respect for his fellow man.

Is the film a comedy or a tragedy?

The Grand Budapest Hotel is hard to pin down in any particular genre. It is comedic throughout, and many moments of great suspense and drama are diffused with an absurd comic twist. However, the film ends on a rather melancholic note, as we see the now-failing hotel as a memorial to the untimely deaths of two of the owner's dearest loved ones. Additionally, its sociopolitical implications are bleak, in that it depicts Europe as falling to fascist forces. Overall, the film's narrative is a dramatic one, but its tone is delightfully funny throughout, given it a tragicomic bent. At the end, there is hope to be found in stories and writing, as the author puts Zero's story into a book that will be read for generations to come.