The HongFu Hotel

Is there truly an afterlife for all of those who pass? And if there is, what would that life look like as those around them continue to move on with their lives? In Tian Xu’s short film The HongFu Hotel, a family says goodbye and seeks the next path forward….whether they are dead or alive.

On the eve of the demolition of his father Chen’s hotel in New York City, Feng (Kevin Dang) visits the HongFu Hotel one last time…leaving his family in the car. While his father has plans to sign over the hotel to Feng and leave the country the next day for China, Feng takes the opportunity to pay a visit with his family members that reside on the upper floors. Unfortunately, the family is unable to leave with the father as their souls are all that remains within the walls of the aging structure. As Feng visits with his family members Mei (Christine Liao) and Grandpa (Zhu-Sheng-Yin) on the upper floors, he begins to examine his own life and how that family has shaped him as a man….and whether his own past can be a part of his future.

Tian Xu’s exploration of the afterlife and how some souls are unable to move on are paramount to The HongFu Hotel. As Feng attempts to move forward in his life with his wife Catherine (Annalee Richards) and son (Jason Lee), he will need to leave behind the family that rests within the walls of the hotel itself. But it’s more than just about the souls within the hotel, it’s also about Feng’s own journey with his family. As he and Catherine are having issues in their marriage and Feng is reluctant to share the news with his own father, Feng seems more open to seeking sage advice from the souls of his ancestors.

And it seems to be no coincidence as Xu explores the story with the use of rich colors and innovative ways to show off the souls of the hotel. Whether you see solely the face of his aunt or the use of furniture and lighting to create the grandfather, it is these techniques that captivate the eye and draw you into the story itself. Each spirit carried their own look rather than just that of a spectre that roamed the halls.

One of the moments that truly stood out to me is the way that Feng seems to refuse to take the stairs over using the elevator in the hotel. While his grandfather is responsible for the beautiful staircase of the hotel, Feng chooses to follow his own instinct and uses the elevator through just about every shot. This alone is something that his grandfather takes issue with as Feng has his final conversation, learning that the beauty of the building itself is not something that others appreciate – including Feng. Instead, that beauty is overlooked in favor of innovation and forward thinking rather than trying to connect a part of the past with the present.

As Feng finally finds peace with his family, he notices that his father is outside of the car talking to his grandson. Though the relationship with his father may be strained, Feng seems to find comfort that his father seeks to have a similar relationship like the one he had with his grandfather. Hopefully, there can be a better path forward.