Hotel America

Hotel America

Year: 1981

Runtime: 95 mins

Language: French

Director: André Téchiné

RomanceDrama

Helene, a pill‑addict anesthesiologist grieving her boyfriend’s death, causes a car crash that brings her into contact with Gilles, a lethargic young man who lives in his mother’s hotel. Gilles courts Helene, softening her defenses, while also remaining loyal to Bernard, a petty criminal who targets gay men. The three navigate stagnant relationships.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline – Hotel America (1981)

Trace every key event in Hotel America (1981) with our detailed, chronological timeline. Perfect for unpacking nonlinear stories, spotting hidden connections, and understanding how each scene builds toward the film’s climax. Whether you're revisiting or decoding for the first time, this timeline gives you the full picture.

1

Near collision and coffee encounter

Hélène nearly hits Gilles Tisserand while driving through Biarritz one night. They stop for a coffee and end up spending the night at a diner while she files a report. By the next morning, Gilles has fallen in love.

Biarritz
2

Morning invitation and ambivalence

The next morning, Gilles asks Hélène for a date and she accepts, though she remains emotionally distant. Their budding interest is clear, but she isn't sure about him yet. The encounter sets the tone for their complicated relationship.

Biarritz
3

New arrivals at Hotel de la Gare

Gilles has just returned from New York and brings his friend Bernard with him. They end up living for free at the Hotel de la Gare, run by Gilles' mother and his younger sister Elise. The two friends settle into a precarious but comfortable setup.

Hotel de la Gare
4

Bernard's crush on Elise

Bernard wants to seduce Elise, a studious girl who never goes out and loves reading. Elise repeatedly turns him down, creating tension in the trio. Their dynamic adds a tense edge to their social circle.

Hotel de la Gare
5

Casino dinner ends in discord

Gilles invites Hélène to a restaurant at the local casino with Bernard and Colette. The evening ends in discord as Hélène dislikes Bernard’s attitude and Gilles confronts her about her apparent superiority toward his friend. The night drives a wedge between them.

Local casino, Biarritz
6

First night together; serious relationship begins

After the confrontation, Hélène pursues him and they eventually sleep together in his mother's hotel. Their relationship becomes a serious, if uneasy, bond. The relationship starts to deepen despite underlying tensions.

Hôtel de la Gare
7

Gilles becomes a tour guide and helps paint

Gilles finds a job as a tourist guide and also paints Hélène's beachfront apartment. His new routine marks a shift toward a more stable life, though it does not erase underlying doubts. Hélène remains haunted by her past while trying to build a future.

Biarritz beachfront / surrounding areas
8

Hélène's past resurfaces

Hélène carries the memory of her previous lover, an architect who drowned in Biarritz over a year earlier. His death is the reason she moved to Biarritz, and it shadows her new relationship. The past begins to intrude on the present.

Biarritz
9

La Salamandre inheritance and move plan

Hélène has inherited La Salamandre, a large abandoned house outside town that the architect had planned to inhabit. Gilles insists she move there and away from the beachfront apartment. The plan suggests a turning point in their relationship.

La Salamandre
10

Park night confrontation and arrest

Bernard and Gilles clash about Hélène, and later in a park Bernard assaults Luc, Collette’s gay friend who tries to pick him up. A police investigation later uncovers stolen items in Bernard's hotel room, and he is arrested.

Park (Night)
11

Move to La Salamandre reveals trouble

The move to La Salamandre proves cold and distant, far from town, complicating their relationship and intensifying their problems. They navigate isolation while trying to make the place a home. The change worsens rather than improves their bond.

La Salamandre
12

Gilles' mood and the London plan; beach slap

Gilles becomes moody and possessive, straining the relationship. He proposes a trip to London but retracts, and a drunken scene on the beach ends with him slapping Hélène. The incident marks a breaking point between them.

Beach, Biarritz
13

Hélène decides to leave Biarritz

Disillusioned, Hélène decides to return to Paris. On the train, she tears up a photo of Gilles, but she cannot bring herself to throw it out the window.

Train
14

Reopening party and revelations

The Hotel de la Gare is renamed Hôtel des Amériques at its reopening party. Colette breaks into tears when Luc tells her that Bernard has left town with money, while Elise kisses Rudel. The night exposes shifting loyalties among their circle.

Hôtel des Amériques (formerly Hôtel de la Gare)
15

Gilles learns of Hélène's return and races to the station

Elise informs Gilles that Hélène has returned permanently to Paris. He rushes to the train station, but must wait a day for the next train, spending the night rehearsing what he will say to her, tears in his eyes.

Train station

Last Updated: October 09, 2025 at 14:57

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Hotel America Summary

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Hotel America Summary

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Characters, Settings & Themes in Hotel America

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