Designed as a semi-independent prelude to "The Darjeeling Limited", "Hotel Chevalier" proves that ten minutes of Wes Anderson's wizardry are worth more than many another big-budget director's feature-length film. It's a study in the pain and the lust only love can bring, as well as a variation of Anderson's trademark motif, control. Where "The Darjeeling Limited" bubbles over with substance abuse, poisonous snakes, restroom romps, brotherly affection and fatal accidents, "Hotel Chevalier" is a quiet and slightly eerie two-character mini drama set in a lavish Merchant-Ivory style suite. The suite's sole resident is a reclusive control-freak writer in a long-distance relationship (Jason Schwartzman). We watch as he half enjoys, half endures a surprise visit by his control-freak girlfriend (Natalie Portman). Is she a woman of flesh and blood, or is she just an imaginary incarnation of the jet-setting girl from "Where do you go to my lovely", the song Peter keeps playing on his portable stereo? There's no knowing what's real and what isn't in Anderson's paper moon world. But the importance of fact and fiction fades as she reclines on the bed and has Peter take off her spike-heeled boots. It's the most emotionally and sexually loaded scene I have seen in a long time, like a 20-second tango. It seems some of Natalie Portman's best work is done in shorts set in Paris. Remember Tom Tykwer's "True"?

This short film here is actually closely connected to Wes Anderson's movie "Hotel Chevalier", so it is no surprise that he is also listed as writer and director for this one. I have not seen the aforementioned movie, so I will not elaborate on parallels and differences. Both protagonists, however, appear in it.

I have to say, I enjoyed "Hotel Chevalier" a lot, more than I expected. I was very much underwhelmed by "The Grand Budapest Hotel" recently, but this brought me back to loving Anderson. The song is perfect (Peter Sarstedt - Where Do You Go To My Lovely) and fits the atmosphere 100%, the sets, camera shots and colors look so unique that you immediately know it is Wes Anderson and the two characters are very interesting to follow in their interactions. I especially liked how Schwartzman's character lies on the bead on his own early and later the empty spot is taken by Portman's character. Portman, occasionally, looks quite a bit like Carey Mulligan here. My favorite moment was maybe when the man unwrapped the Hotel Chevalier chocolate before unwrapping the woman. The sound was very nice as well.

I would immediately watch a movie that revolves around this couple. The film had many indicators which make me think that it would be a uniquely interesting story. About this short film, highly recommended.

I think most of Wes Anderson's films are products you either love or you hate. Many professional reviewers and lovers of art and indie films adore his movies, whereas the average Joe (or Josephine) probably wonders why anyone would pay to see these movies. To say that his films lack conventional plots is an understatement--and the same can be said about "Hotel Chevalier". This short features what seems like an out of context snippet--not enough to tell a story and not one where you know much about the characters. And, when it's over, you STILL are left wondering what it was all about. Some love this ambiguity--some can't stand it. As for me, I have enjoyed some of Anderson's quirky films quite a bit (such as "Moonrise Kingdom" and "The Royal Tannenbaums") and hate thoroughly hated others (such as "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou" and the film that this short precedes on the DVD--"The Darjeeling Limited". And, like the full length film, "The Darjeeling Limited", "Hotel Chevalier" lacks context and is tough to love. To me, it was just a snippet of a film involving two one-dimensional characters who meet in a hotel room to screw and not much more.