From the beginning the premise is unusual. It is Moscow, 1922 and Count Alexander Rostov is in court, his position as an aristocrat just too difficult for the authorities to deal with. So he is sentenced to live the rest of his life under house arrest in his current residence, the grand and very upmarket Metropole Hotel. Unfortunately he is not allowed to live in his suite of rooms, instead banished to an attic room. Being only in his early thirties, and a true man about town, this really is quite some punishment. But at least he is alive, not put up against a wall and shot! So he takes all this in his stride, with enormous dignity and some considerable intellect. What unfolds is a most unusual and joyous life as the Count builds a most marvellous life for himself.
He makes his existence in the hotel meaningful, developing relationships with other guests, the staff from the porter up to the head chef, and trying to stay on the good side of the managment. He is constantly finding ways to outwit and work around whatever the regime of the day maybe, which over some thirty years is a lot of politics and bureaucracy to deal with. Just think from Lenin, to Stalin, the war, the post-Stalin years, then Krushchev, the hotel being the scene of many meetings, dinners and parties for these leaders and their hangers-on.
There is humour, some of it black, some of it just plain funny. There is sadness, loneliness and grief. But through out Count Alex remains a true gentleman, reminding us that whatever our circumstances at the heart of any success in life is our relationships with those around us, as well as maintaining our own personal dignity and self respect. This was immensely enjoyable.
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