Character Analysis
This weirdly-hairstyled young dude is the Grand Budapest's concierge in 1968. As the Author says, he "struck one as being, at once, both lazy and, really, quite accommodating." The Author also suspects "he was not well paid."
While he may not play a big role in this movie, M. Jean is used to represent the circa-1968 Grand Budapest Hotel itself—to contrast the current state of the Budapest and Zubrowka with an earlier, flourishing time.
Jean leans lazily at his desk with a cigarette, which he (weirdly) stores in his vest pocket when he actually has to interact with one of the few guests at the Budapest. He's the polar opposite of the excessively polite, professional, fast talking, and energetic Gustave—and he makes us wonder how much of the appeal of the Grand Budapest Hotel was due to Gustave's charisma.