I won't even try to describe the plot of The Hotel New Hampshire because so many things happen, and without any particular kind of moral arc. Basically it's about a family who own a hotel, then another hotel, then another hotel. Along the way there's gang rape, incest, suicide, terrorism, prostitution, an exploding airplane, blindness and killing the family dog because he farts.The odd thing is, watching the trailer, you'd get the impression that this is a comedy. Indeed the characters themselves don't seem particularly moved by half these events, while I found the suicide of the daughter Lilly (played by then 13 year old actress Jennifer Dundas) who kills herself jumping out the window of a New York City skyscraper, especially sad.Although the strangest part of the film was probably the Rob Lowe / Jodie Foster incest scene, in which they (siblings) basically have sex all day long, and neither of them seem a bit disturbed about it either during the orgy or at any point later in the film.Perhaps this is a "dark comedy"?

This is one of the movies I like a lot. Ever since I saw it in the cinema in the 80's I have returned to it over and over again. It still holds up today. The actors are great and the film handles topics that most movies today would not dare to. It's a world were some things are hard and some things are magic and everything in between that we are a part of for a while. Wes Anderson with "Royal Tenenbaums" and "Grand Budapest Hotel" owes a lot to this movie. Today this movie couldn't be made, at least not by main stream studios. The free flowing topics in the movie are just to taboo to handle for today's audiences and studios. That's a part of the allure of this movie, it goes everywhere and it's just for the audience to hold on and enjoy the ride.

My favourite, most watched film ever! First saw "The Hotel New Hampshire" when I was about 14 (I'm 30 now! shh...) and it immediately struck a chord in me, for various reasons. I went out and bought the book, loved it-and have been a firm John Irving book and film-worm ever since.There's something for most people to relate to in the film-even at it's most bizarre moments! "Life is a fairytale!" If you have seen the film but not yet read the book, I would highly recommend it. It's as good , if not better than the film and opens up the world of john Irving to you-all his books are great, like 'The World According to Garp' or 'The Cider House Rules' etc... Great film!

I read the book before I even knew the film version existed and absolutely loved it straightaway. Came across the film some time later and to be honest, wasn't expecting it to do much justice to John Irvings finest.. it's a great film though and I think manages that rare feat of capturing a lot of the books essence and charm without massacring the storyline in the process. When it's funny you laugh and when it's sad you pipe your eye-Yes, I admit it! Why not?! The Berry family in 'The Hotel New Hampshire' struck a chord in me on the page first of all, then endeared themselves to me further on the screen. The film has ever since remained my absolute favourite and shall continue to for as long as I can keep on glimpsing bits of myself and my close family/friends in many of the characters, the good AND bad bits. And be moved by each Berry family members particular 'journey' through life, searching for their own personal 'it' - happiness & contentment.. Cos y'know what they say;'Love floats too..just like Sorrow..' But unfortunately thats also the case with canine flatulence so I guess we could say we're all in various perpetual states of a)Love b)Sorrow or c)Flatulence in life at various stages in it..... but p'raps t'wud be just as well if we Didn't say it though...? ;-'