MovieChat Forums > Last Holiday (2006) Discussion > They need to research the cultural stuff...

They need to research the cultural stuff better!!!!!!

posted 13 years ago by Terrapin2212
4 replies | jump to latest

This was a nice feel good movie but it did have some glaring research mistake especially about the South and also some fo the European stuff.

First of all, being from Louisiana, Georgia Byrd would NOT ever mind being called ma'am. In the South that is how people address each other as a sign of respect and it has nothing to do with age like some Yankees apaprently do. Apparently in Boston or Chicago it would be rude to call a woman ma'am or so I hear. I am originally from LOuisiana and any female you don't know the name of would be called ma'am. And sometimes "miss" for an older lady to be even more polite. Especially since this character made a big deal about it and thought it made her feel old like maybe if she was a character from Boston or New York it would make sense.

She also says how its unrealistic for her sister to like coutnry music, like there are no black country singers. Ever hear of Darius Rucker (funny cause the kid's name is Darius!!) who is a famous black coutnry singer who has over 5 hits in the Country Top 20 already so far in his career (he used to be in Hootie and the Blowfish but Darius Rucker is his real name). Also, years ago, Charley Pride was a famous African American country singer. I think in the end in the Realities book they should have showed the sister singing in a honky tonk bar and they should have also showed the kid Darius and what happened to him.

So apparently the European portion is set in the Czech Republic but everyone there seems to be French or German with names like Gunther or Klaus or Didier. Apparently they all speak French in the hotel and Chef Didier speaks French to random people in the marketplace and they all understand him. They also give the hotel rates in Euros which is not the currency there.

[–] Orpheum-3 12 years ago

I thought about that, myself, then noted that the hotel catered to the rich and famous. Now, there may be a lot of rich folks in Czechoslovakia, but not enough to sustain an entire hotel complex that size. So they probably catered to a lot of European and American elite (where most of the money is), which means they're going to take euros.

Now, regarding the language thing, I would expect that it has to do with the kind of hotel it is... 5 star, mega-rich clientele, etc... so I'm thinking that they probably can have their pick of the world's best hospitality professionals.

The Spa workers and porters might have been local (that first bellman with the thick accent sure looked/sounded "eastern european" (which in a movie like this is about all that one can hope for), but the valet (again, a profession with classical training) "Gunther" could have been German, but may also have been Austrian, Lichtenstinian, or something else really Teutonic Europe has a lot of countries), and the front desk woman was of indeterminate origin.

The kitchen makes a lot more sense: Chef Didier was French, and a celebrity chef like that is going to be in charge of hiring for his kitchen, so it makes sense that he'd hire people trained in French cuisine, and in Europe, most likely would mean being trained in France (hence their understanding of his mushmouthed Francais ;) ).

Anyhow, regardless of the cultural glossing, the predictability of the plot contrivances, the appalling "why Lord?!?" scene, and the sped-up resolution, I enjoyed watching this movie very much. Queen Latifah is fantastic at playing lovable and kind - I rooted for her the whole time, even knowing how it would turn out. I enjoyed - 3 out of 4 stars for me.

[–] Matteo89 12 years ago

I lived in Prague so I can tell:

Klaus is actually a Czech last name. Current president is called Vaclav Klaus.

Before WW2 there were plenty of Germans in the Czech lands as these were part of the Austrian Empire. Even after most of them were expelled with the Communism era starting, many others remained, and others have come back.

Concerning Didier speaking French and others English. Well, the Czechs are trully into other cultures, specially if they are Western. So its not to strange to find many folks knowing English, German, and also some French and Spanish.

Karlovy Vary is a city that has had a boom with the Russian maffia on one hand. On the other, it is a very beautiful town that holds an annual cinema festival that has been attended by famous actors such as John Malkovich. So as you can image, it counts with the best quality of hotels.

[–] Countryford 11 years ago

She should have known about Charlie Pride. You are correct about that. As far as Darius Rucker, how could she think he was a country singer, 2 years before he became one? The show came out in 2006 and Darius Rucker started his country carreer in 2008.

[–] 11 years ago

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