He never expected the project to take the shape it eventually did once Lina and Steph became his subjects. FTIBecause Gleeson works as an observational filmmaker, there was no script prepared for ‘Hotel Coolgardie,’ and he simply captured footage of whatever unfolded with the women who came through a job agency. That lingering discomfort is part of why ‘Hotel Coolgardie’ continues to resonate, especially for anyone who has since watched ‘The Royal Hotel’ and wanted to understand where the fictionalized version departed from reality. Why Hotel Coolgardie Still Resonates with AudiencesCritics have largely praised the film for how honestly it captures a specific, uncomfortable slice of Australian life. On Rotten Tomatoes, ‘Hotel Coolgardie’ holds a 94 percent Tomatometer score from 16 reviews alongside an 87 percent audience score, numbers that reflect just how effectively the documentary landed with both critics and viewers.