# 9: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)

Maggie Smith

as Muriel Donnelly

in

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)

 Screentime: 18 minutes and 31 seconds (15.8% of the film)

 

John Madden's The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is a story of a group of older British citizens deciding to move and reside in a supposed luxury retirement village in India for a variety of reasons, either looking for a change of scenery, confronting past relationships, finding a wealthy husband, and for one, no pleasure or enjoyment whatsoever but for a speedy hip replacement procedure. The latter is of course Maggie Smith.

Once they have arrived, the group struggle to learn to adjust to such a severe culture change as they go about exploring the sights as well as looking for love, happiness and some contentment in their lives. It’s a wonderful ensemble piece with some of Britain’s best delivering a nice mix of drama and comedy. 

FILM:

 

Maggie Smith is the elderly Muriel Donnelly, a racist and bigot who initially gives everyone a hard time and is only going to India for her operation and planning to go straight back home when it is over. But as the film progresses we learn of her loneliness and her heartbreak over losing her long-time job as a maid for a family she considered her own. She then discovers that coming to India may have been the best thing for her as she starts snooping into the hotel’s financial accounts. 

Here Maggie is doing her trademark British bitch role, but instead of the typical snooty upper society lady, her character is a lot more Cockney/working class. She has a few wonderful scenes and as usual she delivers some of the film’s best lines. It's wonderful to see such a nice supporting role at Maggie's age, her presence promises a few laughs.

MAGGIE METER:

 

(referring to a nearby black doctor washing his hands)
"He can wash all he likes, that colour's not coming out..."