Portrayal of Cross-Cultural Communication in The Movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Abstract

This research analyzes the portrayal of cross-cultural communication in the movie The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, which tells the story of seven older British retirees who decide to outsource their retirement to India and experience various cultural interactions between British and Indian characters. The study aims to identify how verbal and nonverbal communication is depicted among individuals with cultural differences, specifically British and Indian characters. A qualitative descriptive method was used for this research, applying the theory of Levine and Adelman (1993). The findings indicate that in verbal communication, British characters often use direct communication and a high considerateness style, speaking clearly and getting straight to the point. Conversely, Indian characters frequently employ indirect communication and a high involvement style, tending to avoid issues and exhibit hesitation. In terms of nonverbal communication, Indian characters tend to use more silent communication cues in conversation than British characters.