MovieChat Forums > The Holiday (2006) Discussion > Is this film fairly typical of how Ameri...

Is this film fairly typical of how Americans view life in Britain?

posted 14 years ago by DeutschlandUberAlles
37 replies | jump to latest

I couldn't help feeling slightly annoyed while watching this film. The portrayal that most of the British middle-class live in tiny, crappy cottages with furnishing that hasn't been changed in years, no luxories,no modern equiptment, and everything just *beep* compared to what the grand Americans have.

What summed it up for me was at the start when the British women runs into the house, and is running around extatic and absolutely over-whelmed by all the modern luxories she has seeimingly never seen before in her life, and when she runs into the living room and tries to hug the flatscreet TV - just about every British person has a 32 inch flatscreen, lol, even the working class have them.

I also couldn't stand the portrayal that all British people have a stiff-upper lip and compared to the American, are really rigid, bland and not very outgoing compared to the American.

I found this film pretty offensive in it's portrayal of the UK, and it kinda makes me feel sorry for Americans how their only exposure to the world seems to be through *beep* stereotypical films like this.

However, on the other hand, it is not just the US that can stereotype, and Americans get really annoyed when British people view Americans as being fat, over-weight racists who all lives in *beep* trailers and drive around in the ancient pick-up trucks.

Americans would say that that stereotype is completely untrue, but it's no less true than the way Amreicans portray the British.

Maybe I'm being too sensitive about it, but the Britain often portrayed in American films is so far removed from the Britain I know it's almost surreal.

[–] Prelude_in_C_maj 14 years ago

SO true!!!

You're not being too sensitive, it really is full of such mythical stereotypes of life in the UK that it annoyed me too.

While I can understand that the home of the Cameron Diaz character was not exactly your typical American suburban home -- after all, she did work in the Hollywood film industry, live there too, probably made a high income and that home probably is a fair portrayal of a Hollywood lifestyle (as opposed to a regular US family lifestyle), on the other hand the Kate Winslett lifestyle was full of cliches so ridiculous and outdated that they really do bear very little resemblance to how this woman, a professional commuting to London and making decent money herself, would likely be living in the real UK of today.

[–] selkn-asrai 14 years ago

Hey, I'm American and I'd gladly take Iris' house over Amanda's any day. I didn't really see it as antiquated--it was classy, inviting, historic, with a touch of charm that comes with being lived in (which Amanda's most certainly was not). Having been to the UK (and always stayed with family in their homes who, by the way, don't have plasma televisions), I didn't take Winslet's lack of a flatscreen as a stereotype. Does she really seem the person who would indulge in a flatscreen? She bought a plane ticket to Hollywood in less than 24 hours with no issue; I imagine, having no one to really spend money on, she would save rather than spend, maybe put some aside in case of an unexpected swap.

And where would a tv fit? Let's assume Iris' house is at least a century old (forgive me; history of the British home is not my strength). Whoever built that cottage would have been economic with space; would the structure of the rooms accomodate a large tv? She has as many books as Amanda has movies. Considering their respective professions, this is not at all surprising.

I'd rather live in a drafty colonial than a Newport mansion. I also dislike urban areas. But if I were house-swapping without actually having seen where I'd be spending my next two weeks and came upon a real-life Barbie luxury home near (on?) Sunset Blvd., I'd still be thrilled by the furnishings, the entertainment unit, the gym, even though I already have a comfortable living room and a dvd collection. I'm sure half of her ecstasy was just because of the dreamy LA weather (but then, I'm not much a fan of perpetual summers either). And hey, it was a new place to spend Christmas after admitting to three years of miserable holidays!

"Now, bring me that horizon."

[–] Val-El 14 years ago

A little bit over-the-top, eh? You obviously forgot Graham's house which was extremely large, well-designed, well-kept and well-furnished. It's simply the difference (peceived) between living in urban areas vs the countryside.

[–] tiggerlgh 14 years ago

This happens in many films. When you see the midwest US on films do really think that all people that live in this section of the country live like that? Not even close. Chalk it up to Hollywood.

Don't take it personally I don't think most people see this and think this is how everyone that lives outside of London lives.

[–] moviecritic218 14 years ago

Actually I just finished watching The Holiday. Iris does have a small flat screen tv. It was featured in the scene when Amanda met Graham for the first time. The OP I understand your frustration. I don't often love the way NYC is portrayed in films/tv however those are breaks. The best thing I could tell anyone that asks me about living in NYC is come visit and see it for yourself. I also have to pleasure of visiting London twice. I found the British people that I encountered to be quite lovely. I definitely will be returning to London in the near future.

[–] gazboselectamo 14 years ago

What a pleasant suprise to read a thread comparing Hollywood stereotypes of British and American living that hasn't degenerated into name calling and swearing!

On another note did anyone not think it was a bit strange that Amanda, essentially a video editor, was living in what could only be described as a mansion. Doesn't seem quite a fair representation of what someone working on the technical side of film making would realistically earn!

Also, Iris working as a journalist in central london but living out in the country was equally unlikely. Lets face it though neither point ruins the film!

[–] Val-El 14 years ago

I believe she's also involved in the publicity of the film! Not just a film editor

[–] kay_cee_d 14 years ago

I don't think Amanda was just a video editor, I think she owned the whole company.
I dunno...I think a lot of places everywhere in the world are stereotyped. Getting upset because your particular part of the world is stereotyped isn't going to help because everyone is.

Only the shell, the perishable passes away. The spirit is without end. Eternal. Deathless.

[–] JustEs 10 years ago

Yes, at one point she tells Graham that she owns the company - probably the reason why she lives in the mansion.

I could never understand why IF she owned the company, why she couldn't move to England and produce promos for British films. Especially due to the girls, it would make more sense for Amanda to eventually move to London than for Graham to move to Hollywood.

Myles and Iris could go either way - but I think Iris would end up working for a paper in Los Angeles.

By the way, it's funny but one of my friends desperately wanted to spend a week in Iris' cottage while I desperately want to spend a week in Amanda'a mansion. Neither of us would actually want to *live* in either place, but I found it funny that if we had a chance to house swap, I'd want to swap with Amanda and she'd want to swap with Iris.

[–] jporter-6 14 years ago

Is your question fairly typical of how Britons view American opinion? Grow up.

[–] kikyoCE 14 years ago

I live in America and I could careless who was living in what. I just enjoyed the story, two women having men trouble and in the end everyone is happy.

[–] jporter-6 14 years ago

Oh, this is absolutely how we Americans view Britain--a nation of shopkeepers, just exactly as it was during World War II. We believe that the women and children sleep in the tubes at night to avoid German bombing raids and V-2 rocket attacks and that, somewhere, Mrs. Miniver is still growing roses. And, of course, just possibly, the Sheriff of Nottingham is still looking for Robin Hood.

Would you guys just grow up and little and quit being so defensive?

[–] SaucyTheDuck 14 years ago

Next your going to tell us that all English people don't sound like Dick Van Dyke from Mary Poppins.

We generalize and stereotype British people because we're secretly jealous. You have the pretty accents, the history, currency that isn't in the toilet. Just rub it in our American faces.

[–] dorota-suder 12 years ago

I'm neither American nor British so when I watched the movie I didn't think of the nationality portrayal. For me it just showed the lives of two completely different persons. There are Irises and Amandas in every country. It had said something about L.A. (according to the movie everyone in it lives from movie business, including old crippled men) and suburban England, but not so much about USA and England in general.

But maybe you're right, maybe after a 100th movie that *happens* to show England and USA in a certain way you can get a bit sensitive about these matters. Maybe it would be more fair to make a movie about Iris from Georgia and Amanda from London, but then it would be harder to be consistent. After all, I can't imagine a better place than lovely, sunny L.A. to be overworked, materialistic and denying all negative emotions. Those environments are the perfect symbols of the characters' mental states, it would be harder to find other symbols that would be so universally understood... maybe Tokyo for someone as overworked as Amanda or a Norwegian countryside for someone like Iris.

[–] hkronin 11 years ago

I didn't see any British/American comparisons in that.

This was basically a comparison in lifestyles between a person living in the gaudy luxuries of a upscale LA neighborhood to someone living in a smaller and older rural town. If they didn't have very opposite characteristics, the couple would have never wanted to switch. That was the ENTIRE BASIS OF THE PLOT. They both wanted a break from the norm.

People in the city like to see the country. People who live in the country like to visit the big city. Differences attract.

[–] mlmerit 11 years ago

Hopefully I don't over simplify the discussion here, but I'm not sure the massive differences were what the movie intended...I got the impression that Rosehill Cottage was some sort of historic setting and that is why most of it stayed back a bit in comparison..It was actually beautiful though...I like the Sunset Blvd "idea" of Cameron's house but the cottage was perfect in my eyes..I'd have liked it only slightly better if the interior was all modern..I live in a historic house which must be kept as it was built on the outside and that does present some issues but the interior is been updated to all modern workings....

[–] AllieMDA 8 years ago

You're right that the cottage did not look like a cheap place to live. Just very, very different - I know someone in the midst of restoring an old beach house; one detail is that they tore up wall to wall carpet to find beautiful wood floors circa 1916 - very nicely preserved due to that awful carpet.
Overall, it's quite an expensive retrofit for what might seem at first glance to be an inconveniently small space. But it's gonna be a stunner.

[–] Shimmer_Me_Timbers 11 years ago

I don't think that was the point... they were trying to get the most opposing lifestyles possible and it seems more likely that someone big in LA would want to stay at a cottage in surrey rather than a posh Brit wanting to live on a farm.

That's just my thoughts.

[–] Tiburon75 10 years ago

I thought Iris lived in a very nice house. It was older and quaint, but she had nice property surrounding it as well. The cottage did not appear to be all that small, and would certainly have enough room for one person. The women both had very good jobs, and certainly were economically comfortable to be able to make the "switch". I agree with several of the posters that each of them just wanted to have a "holiday" in a completely different location (weatherwise, pace of life, different type of men) than what they were used to. And the movie was very good!

[–] AllieMDA 8 years ago

I absolutely agree! Iris chose to live there. At some trouble - her commute must be terrible but it seemed clear to me that she is generally happy where she is. Her house is small and old-fashioned but did you notice the wonderful shape it is in? It has been lovingly restored by someone, whether Iris or a previous occupant.

While this appears to be Iris's typical comfortable milieu, she is in desperate need of some kind of change, so she goes on to enjoy the "opposite" at the almost absurdly well-appointed house of Amanda's.

As for Amanda's home - note that it is not just her living space, but her working space too, which does take up a pretty sizable area in the house. Amanda runs her company from her home. It is a high-paying operation and much of the space appears dedicated to this lucrative business of hers, rather than typical living areas. In fact, some of the things that seem to be luxuries are necessary for the apparently-amazingly successful career of Amanda's. To refer back to some notes in this thread, the huge tv and collection of movies were almost certainly write-offs, and it's likely they adjoin her working space rather than her main living space. It's obvious that Amanda is wildly rich but there are plenty of non-contentious explanations for at least some of what appears to be over-indulgent.

Back to Iris's cottage - considering the conveniences and the loveliness of the seemingly old-fashioned items (like the small but absolutely beautiful tub!), it is sure that quite a lot of money has been put into making the place live-able at all, let alone stunningly well-maintained and presumably in close to its original state. Pretty damn expensive to live in a "quaint" house. (I'm pointing this out partly in response to the fact that Iris's brother does damn well for himself, if we are judging everyone based on their residences.)
Despite the fact that this is a small, comfortable house for Iris doesn't mean that she wouldn't like a break from that. Thus the excitement and fun of the huge swimming pool, tv, sun and the simple idea of large amounts of open, sunny space. A welcome change.

Amanda makes clumsy use of the cottage but she could have gone and visited *anywhere*. Unlike Iris she knows exactly what the house looks like, but has been spoiled by extreme modernity and does not know what she is getting into.
This does not mean the cottage is cheap, it does not mean the cottage is a bad place to live, and it *certainly* doesn't mean that living in that cottage is even approaching "typical" British lifestyles.

(Also come on it is a silly little romantic comedy. Cute but...well, cute.)

[–] 10 years ago

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