The Grand Budapest Hotel

In the formerly magnificent Grand Budapest Hotel in the fictitious Republic of Zubrowka, legendary  concierge Monsieur Gustave (Ralph Fiennes) takes care of its well-heeled regular guests, including aged countess Madame D. (Tilda Swinton). After she is poisoned, he finds out that she has left him a valuable painting, whereupon a wild inheritance battle breaks out, with treachery and murder ensuing and Gustave ending up in any number of outrageous adventures. Wes Anderson’s comedy is narrated in five chapters across four different points in time and brings together a panopticon of eccentric figures in strident costumes. Part of the film’s impressively starry cast is Mathieu Amalric in the role of Madame D.’s devious butler Serge X. (bik)