L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: C?cile De France, Cristina Brondo, Federico D'Anna, Javier Coromina, Kevin BishopDVD: Region Code 1
Audio: French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround; English (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); French (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish (Dubbed), Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Format: Anamorphic, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 122 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2003-12-23
Audience Rating: R (Restricted)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment)
Movie Review: Pass on the pudding...
Summary: 1 Stars
A French film set in Barcelona, Spain; sounds beautifully intoxicating, right? That's that I thought but sadly I was sorely mistaken.
`L'Auberge Espagnole' (`The Spanish Apartment' / `Euro Pudding' depending on how you want to translate it) has the makings of an intricately woven coming of age story but it manages to be nothing more than a boring and tepid waste of time. I remember when the opening credits for the film began to run and I thought to myself that this looked to be an extremely steamy sitcom, and I was put off a bit because I wanted to watch a `movie' and not a `sitcom' but I thought that if done right then it could prove to be a good time at least. Instead I got something that doesn't even qualify as a `Dawson's Creek' style romp; a film that merely skims across the surface of stimulation and barely comes off as entertaining. Even it's `film about nothing yet about so much more' approach is staggering and winds up being a film about nothing that is ultimately about nothing.
I know I am in the minority here, but honestly, I can't bring myself to lie.
I will say first and foremost that I adore films that seem to have no point but in the end touch us so deeply. I'm all for that, but `L'Auberge Espagnole' is not that kind of film, at least not for me. I gathered nothing from this experience, except shattered hopes and aspirations since the film wound up being so much less than I anticipated. After seeing Audrey Tautou sizzle and score with the beautifully constructed `Amelie' I was dying to see her in action once again, so I picked up this film. Sadly, Tautou is barely in this film, and even though she is decent in her small role she is still stunted by the scripts poor construction.
The film follows Xavier, a French college student who decides to travel to Barcelona for a year to study economics and learn the Spanish culture in order to help secure himself a well paying job. He leaves behind his difficult girlfriend and overbearing mother and winds up bunking with quite a few roommates all of different ethnic backgrounds (British, Italian, German, Danish, Spanish). His girlfriend comes to visit, leaves upset, breaks up with him. He falls for his lesbian roommate, then his friend's wife. His roommate's brother comes to visit and turns everyone off (the only slightly entertaining segment in the film) and yet none of this seems remotely relevant since none of it is delivered in a way that makes us feel it is of the slightest importance.
One good thing I can say about the film is that the entire cast handles their respective roles very well. Their acting can't really elevate this film into the importance it is so actively seeking, but it does at least give me a singular avenue in which to praise. Romain Duris is wonderful as Xavier, taking his characters shelter naivety and allowing him to blossom as the film lurches forward. It's within the supporting characters that I found the most joy though. Judith Godreche is especially stunning as Anne-Sophie, the married woman whom Xavier takes a liking to. Cecile De France is also mesmerizing as Isabelle, Xavier's off-limits roommate, and Kelly Reilly makes her mark as the loud and outspoken Wendy. I also really loved the inclusion of Kevin Bishop and his character William, for he actually held my interest for the brief moments he was on the screen.
Sadly, they can't save this movie nor can they convince me to every watch it again or even suggest you give it a try. I'd stay away from this film, but then again so many others here have praised it and recommended it and obviously seen something within its running time that I fail to see.
To each his own, I always say; to each his own.
Summary of L'Auberge Espagnole (The Spanish Apartment)
An absolute delight, L'Auberge Espagnole captures a moment in a life, seemingly about nothing and everything all at once. Xavier (Romain Duris), a young Parisian not sure what his life is about, decides to spend a year in Barcelona studying economics--leaving behind his unhappy girlfriend (Audrey Tautou, Am?lie) but joining an international mix of students in a hectic, crowded apartment. Arguing and partying with his British, German, Danish, and Italian roommates--not to mention getting lessons in love from a Belgian lesbian (Cecile De France) so that he can seduce a friend's wife (Judith Godreche, Ridicule)--Xavier learns more about life than economics. The movie, beautifully shot on digital video, has a freshness and spontaneity that make its simple events--a series of arguments and flirtations--feel like a miniature portrait of the European Union as it comes into focus (the title can be translated as "Euro pudding"). Vibrant, charming, and all-around entertaining. --Bret FetzerSeven sexy co-eds. One Spanish apartment. No rules. A single year of learning turns into an outrageous adventure of a lifetime in this "fresh, captivating comedy" (Newsday) that has audiences and critics cheering around the world! Xavier (Romain Duris) is a straight-laced French college senior who moves to Barcelona as part of a exchange program, much to the dismay of his beautiful Martine (Audrey Tautou). But sharing cramped quarters with students from all over Europe quickly leads to multi-cultural chaos as Xavier gets a hilarious, eye-opening lesson on how to live, love, laugh?and party!
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