Watch Hotel Portofino

Hotel Portofino is a captivating British drama series aired on PBS in 2022. The series is produced to offer viewers an immersive journey into the lives, dramas, and dreams of a group relocating to the Italian Riviera in the 1920s. With breathtaking scenery making it a must-watch for those who love travel, history, and a substantial narrative, Hotel Portofino has quickly become one to watch.

The show mainly centers around the boutique Hotel Portofino, which is located in the Italian Riviera during the 1920s, a period characterized by dramatic changes in societal norms and behavior. It's a beautiful world exuding the decadent charm and serene ambiance of the period, and the hotel perfectly portrays this atmosphere.

Hotel Portofino introduces the audiences to the Sedgewick family, British expats, who opt to leave the damp and coming economic doom of post-World War I Britain for the warmth and potential prosperity of Italy. Bellamy Sedgewick, played by Natascha McElhone, is the resilient matriarch who embarks on establishing a high-end hotel as a means to provide for her family and assert her independence. She is joined by her disillusioned husband, Robert, their ambitious daughter, Vittoria, and Stanley, a devoted but unconventional family friend.

Manage the hotel to not only become a profitable venture but also maintain her family proves to be quite challenging for Bellamy. The evocative setting becomes an observation deck for the trials and tribulations of this cute family, their staff, guests who frequent the hotel, and the Portofino locals. This creates an enthralling tapestry of intrigue, romance, and tension set against the backdrop of a changing world.

This series captures the time frame with precision, focusing on the societal transitions following the war. Themes including class, gender awareness, and the shift in societal norms form an essential part of the narrative. It allows the viewers to delve into the historical encoding while getting attached to the characters and their stories.

Hotel Portofino possesses an impressive ensemble cast that brings to life these complex characters and the era they inhabit. The series features exceptional performances that lend the storyline its authentic feel. The convincing performances serve to draw the audience into the world of Hotel Portofino, making it more captivating. Natascha McElhone, as Bellamy Sedgewick, offers an honest and intriguing representation of a stalwart woman adapting to the new world and her shifting family dynamics. Other significant performances include Mark Umbers as Robert Sedgewick, Lorenzo Richelmy as Alessandro Alba, and Anna Chancellor as Lady Latchmere.

One of the exceptional features of Hotel Portofino is its keen eye for the magnificent scenic features found on the Italian Riviera. The series goes a long way to recreate the aesthetic allure and unique ambiance that typifies this locale. The vivid, lush cinematography breathes life into the charming harbor town of Portofino, showcasing its enticing beauty and making it an uncredited character in the series.

From the elegant costume design to the detailed set design, the production and design elements of Hotel Portofino are sharp, appealing, and thoughtfully done. The show expertly brings the sparkling glamour and everyday grit of the 1920s to life, paying great attention to period accuracy.

The plotline flows seamlessly, with each episode serving up ripe tension, emotional highs and lows, and picturesque scenes that do justice to the title of the series. Notably, the screenwriting offers an excellent mix of drama, humor, and period charm, providing enough suspense to keep viewers coming back for more.

In a nutshell, Hotel Portofino is an alluring and heart-stirring meld of period drama and family saga set in a beautiful Italian tourist hotspot. This PBS series is sure to captivate viewers with its setting’s natural splendor, enthralling characters, their compelling storylines, and the stunning recreation of a bygone era. Whether or not you're a fan of period dramas, it's hard to resist the allure of Hotel Portofino.

Hotel Portofino is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (12 episodes). The series first aired on January 27, 2022.