Australian filmmaker Kitty Green made a movie called “The Royal Hotel” starring Julia Garner and Jessica Henwick. It’s based on a true story and has a powerful ending.
The film follows two backpackers, Liv and Hanna, exploring the Australian Outback. It’s inspired by a documentary called “Hotel Coolgardie” from 2016.
Liv and Hanna, played by Henwick and Garner, run out of money during their trip to Australia. So, they take jobs as bartenders at a place called The Royal Hotel in a remote town in Western Australia.
Before they start working, someone warns them that they might get a lot of attention from men at the bar. The Royal Hotel is owned by Billy and Carol and is often visited by local miners who drink a lot after work.
The hotel is far from other places and doesn’t have phones, which worries Hanna. But Liv convinces her to give the job a try. As they work at the hotel, Liv and Hanna face scary and difficult situations, mostly because of the men there.
But in the end, they overcome these challenges and stand up for themselves. It’s a thriller with a feminist message, set in the deserted landscape of Western Australia.
On their first day, Liv and Hanna meet the previous bartenders, Jules and Cassie. Hanna worries about how some men, including the owner Billy, behave disrespectfully and treat women badly. She’s concerned for their safety.
Ending Explained
Liv thinks they should stay and work for a few weeks to earn money before continuing their trip in Australia. Hanna is unsure but agrees. They start talking to some people at the bar. Hanna is careful because she knows it can be dangerous, but Liv is more relaxed and friendly with the customers.
Matty is the first local guy to talk to Liv and Hanna. He tries to tell a joke that’s disrespectful to Liv, but they all become friends anyway. However, when Matty starts hitting on Hanna and she says no, he gets a bit unfriendly.
Another guy, Teeth, asks Liv out but gets embarrassed when the others tease him. He still acts possessive of Liv afterward, which helps the girls later on.
The main bad guy at the Royal Hotel is Dolly. At first, he seems calm and doesn’t bother Liv and Hanna much. But one night, he gets aggressive with Hanna when she’s working alone. Liv doesn’t realize how dangerous Dolly is because he acts differently around her. Cassie and Jules were last seen with Dolly before they left the hotel, hinting that he might not be a good person.
