This film follows a tragi-comic 'dark night of the soul' in a Dublin hotel, when the naive Ranj works his first shift as assistant night security officer. His mischievous drunken boss Jas (played by Saeed Jaffrey) becomes his flawed and unwilling mentor, introducing him to the rivalries and scams played out behind the scenes, until a crisis brings a revelation of what drives Jas's misanthropy and alcoholism. This is a much under-rated film, a witty and ultimately feelgood drama exploring the hopes and broken dreams of the misfit staff. Notable performances: Jaffrey as the complex trickster Jas; Ian Dury as the crippled (and criminal) telephonist; and the late Vladek Sheybal as Jas's arch-rival, the uptight Egyptian night manager.
