Seven senior citizens decide to go to India. Several have financial reasons, one is looking for a lost love, one needs hip surgery sooner and cheaper than possible at home, one is looking for new love and one is simply trying to stay young. Why India? Well, it must be a British thing since they are all from England. Anyway, they think they are going to a lovely updated home for the elderly. When they arrive, they find the place is far substandard to the advertised Shangrila they were expecting.
And so begins the fun, the struggles and the lessons that make this movie so enchanting. It is truly clever and imaginative in its portrayal of the elderly having grace, style, wisdom and strength. These people are witty, determined, strong-willed, colorful and personable. And that makes all the difference.
Watching this movie is like reading a self-help book for getting through the “not-so-golden” Golden Years. It is filled with wit and wisdom geared to the over 65 set with a bit of the angst of youth thrown in for good balance. There is much to be learned from this wonderful bit of cinema magic.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful.
What a lovely sign and greeting as all the characters in the movie approach the hotel!
I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a sentence with “elderly” and “beautiful” used together. And why is that? Most people don’t think of the elderly as beautiful, that’s why. Well, they are just wrong!
The longer people live, the more beautiful they become . . . . . . inside and out. Increased experience brings wisdom which is always a good thing and quite beautiful.
As the body ages, it gains signs of that age, such as gray hair and wrinkles. Some may see these as undesirable but I honor these signs as badges that can only be earned by years of experience, perseverance and strength. If that isn’t beautiful, I don’t know what is.
Nothing happens unless first we dream.
Dreams, ambitions, wishes – they are what drive us. They keep us looking to the horizon and eagerly awaiting tomorrow . . . . and tomorrow . . . . and tomorrow.
We all have dreams. We don’t all believe in them or act on them, and that is the tragedy of life. On our final day, we will regret more the things we never did, than the things we did. So dream big! Make it happen! Then dream bigger!
The only real failure is the failure to try.
No matter how many dreams a person has, if they are not acted on, they might as well be daydreams. And it may take a lot of action to see a dream materialize. Do not give up, ever!
I’m sure Edison was exhausted after trying thousands of unsuccessful ways to make an electric light bulb. If he had stopped trying because of frustration, fatigue or fury, we would be using Smith bulbs or Jones bulbs today. Again I say, do not ever give up!
The measure of success is how we deal with disappointment.
Disappointment is common to all in every life, sometimes on a daily basis. How we face it is a choice and shows our real character. There is a lesson to be learned each time. Success, then, is basically paying attention.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing.
Sit in a chair and try to have an exciting life! Dare ya! You have to stand up, take a step forward, even if you aren’t sure there is ground under you. There is even a physical law to explain all this ; a body in motion tends to stay in motion and a body at rest tends to stay at rest. Don’t be a body at rest!
All we know of the future is that it will be different. What we fear is that it will be the same. So we must celebrate the change.
People of age know that the past is unchangeable,the future is unknown and the present is all we have. However, having so many years of “past” repeating over and over, elderly folk can get stuck in ruts. Fear of things changing is a common threat to future joy.
The fear, however, should really be of life remaining the same, getting stale, never changing. There is no room for growth when there is no courage or spontaneity.
Most things don’t work out quite as we expect but sometimes what happens instead is the good stuff.
And this, my Sweeties, is what serendipity is all about! Be flexible! See the good in all things! Be grateful!
Everything will be all right in the end. So if it is not all right, it is not the end.
What a completely marvelous mantra for life! Keep smiling and carry on! The end is NOT near!
The Village Granny 
Hi Granny,
What a beautiful and beautifully insightful post. I saw this movie this summer. I loved it so much. I think you wrote a perfect post. It will be hard finding something more to write about this movie now. Isn’t it just wonderful?
I was going to write about this movie as well on my blog, but have been too distracted and busy with moving stress and projects. I absolutely love this movie and especially all it’s messages about life and doing and goals. I absolutely love Judy Dench and have had a secret crush on Bill Nighy for some time.
I didn’t love all of the characters. But as time went on and I learned more about them I fell in love with most of them, even when they weren’t all that loveable, I understood them better and their struggles and their courage to act in their lives and for that, I loved them and found them loveable and worthy and courageous people. Though one character, the martyr, I could never love her, but I did love her courage in leaving and admitting her own truth when the time came and it was necessary for her to go and find her own life.
I fell in love with two of the main characters, especially. And I was so happy to see they were together in the end. I loved seeing them together on the motor scooter at the end of the movie. I guess they are the kind of couple, Dench and Nighy, that I think you and Gramps are. Happy scootering through life dears.
Good and healing thoughts to you and to those you love.
Kate
I loved this movie also. There was so much to learn from it and the characters as well. I too was happy when Dench and Nighy got together in the end. You never know if a happy ending will be allowed these days! How fun to think of us scootering through life! I love that thought! You are such a Sweetie!
Granny
You’re so profound. Reading this made me cry a little, but you knew it would. It was beautiful and I loved it š
Of course! Truth is always a bit touching, isn’t it? I’m so glad you liked it!
Mauntie
Three things you should know: 1. There is nothing to hold you back except you. 2. You are limited only by your own imagination. 3. You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.
I agree completely! And I do know! Thank you for sharing your wisdom.
Granny