MovieChat Forums > The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Discussion > The people claiming Gustave assumed Zero...

The people claiming Gustave assumed Zero's ID and is, in fact, F. MA

posted 4 years ago by Aries (834)
3 replies | jump to latest

...are overlooking an important clue that shows they are wrong.

When Jude Law's character first sees F. Murray Abraham in the lobby and asks the Concierge about him, he gets told that's Mr Moustafa.

At that point, they show a couple of newspaper clips that are 4 years apart - one from 1936 and the next from 1940.

The encounter with the soldiers on the train after the will dispute resolution happens in 1932. So if Zero got shot then, there is no way those newspaper clippings, with clear pics of younger Zero, would be possible over the next 8 years (that show him as the heir to Gustave's fortune and taking over the hotel). Given how well known he was, as per the author's narration, we can assume there were many more newspaper articles over the years about Zero's fortunes, life and what not - something that Gustave would have no way of pulling off.

I think Zero is supposed to be older than the actor playing his younger self appears to be. And in the spa scene when FMA talks to Jude Law, he doesn't look very white - he is quite tan and almost looks Arabic. So F Murry Abraham is indeed Zero, not Gustave.

[–] Strazdas (2472) 4 years ago

Arbraham is of Syrian descent, depending on whether you consider that white or not he may or may not be protraying a white person.

The start of the story happens in 1932, but it takes place over the years. Remmeber that the second encounter with the soldiers on the train happens when soldiers are SS, wearing their black uniforms, after having started the war and taking over the fictional country this takes place in. So time-wise it happening in 1940 or afterwards sounds plausible.

[–] Aries (834) 4 years ago

The encounter with the Nazis (where people who believe this theory assume Zero got shot) happens in 1932. All of the plot, from the time Zero starts working for Gustave to the point where Gustave gets shot happens in that one year, not over a span of years. We are shown newspaper clippings of Zero in 1936 and 40, which is why I think that theory is incorrect and impossible.

You think the plot stretched out over 8 years? I went and checked the scenes before making this thread and am pretty sure all of the events happen in 1932, not 1932 - 1940. Let me know if you think I'm wrong.

Edit* I'll check the newspaper clipping scene later to see if the one from 1936 mentions Zero inheriting the GBH.

[–] Strazdas (2472) 4 years ago

No. The encounter with Wermacht (grey uniforms) happens in 1932. ENcounter with Nazis (black uniforms) happens some time later unspecified, at least over a year based on what movie gives us.

Newspaper clips could be unreliable narrator, just the concierge telling the writer what he wanted to hear.

There was a lot of time-skips in the movie. We also have no idea how much time passed between when the copy of the second will gets recovered and they are on the train. Certainly substantial amount due to them showing Gustave enjoying his newfound luxury.