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Summary: My new favorite movie
Review: I'm a film buff, and this one kicked out my former 3rd favorite movie. Of all time. It's instant placement in my top 3 was based on its colorful presentation, its realistic portrayal of studying abroad in Europe and its shriekingly funny humor. There is a place in my heart for this movie, because of the bittersweet emotions, music and cinematography that bring it to life. When I first saw it in Angers, France a year ago, I knew I would never forget the characters or its geniousness.
Rating:
Summary: absolutely wonderful
Review: I fell in love with this movie from the first time that I saw it in theatres. I was disappointed that it didn't have a longer run and I have been looking for a dvd release for months. This movie is beautiful: dramatic and comedic all at once. I think that it is a wake-up call for people, showing these students pursuing their dreams while living life simply to be living, enjoying all that is life. This movie is especially personal to me, because the life these students are living has been a dream of mine. I know that it may seem a romanticized view of the world to some, but it feels so real and fresh and I think everyone should have that kind of eye-opening experience even if it is only in a movie. L'auberge just might make people question their priorities and realize all that they're missing from life. I highly recommend this movie to everyone. I've been raving about it for months.
Rating:
Summary: a European "Friends" moive
Review: Think European "Friends"; a French guy with a bad relationship decides to study in Spain for one more year in order to get a job in the boring French bureaucracy. In Barcelona, with housing short, he lands in an apartment with 5 other roommates from different countries, they become friends, the movie's heart being the characters themselves. It is situational comedy, romance, life conflicts, a great soundtrack; a very entertaining movie.
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Summary: ...
Review: L'Auberge Espagnole is a trifle of a movie. It maintains a fairly lighthearted atmosphere, is occasionally humorous, and ultimately feels pointless, but familiar. The story is essentially the tale of a young man blindly making his way towards college and a job at a government ministry. On the suggestion of a highly placed member of the ministry, he decides to do spend his final year of economics studying in Spain, and learning Spainish (which the man had told him would place him at the head of the pack for a number of positions to be opened in the ministry). Of course, as a child he wanted to be a novelist, not a government cog. In Barcelona, after some trouble finding lodging, he settles down with a number of students also studying abroad. He is enthralled at the prospect of living with these people, and sees them as the real life equivalent of his inner dialogues. The film follows him as he struggles to "find himself" and copes with a number of problems (primarily love-related, through his year in Barcelona and till the begining of his job in the ministry. Visually and aurally the movie is low-average, often feeling colorless, unsteady and occasionally employing frustrating editing/effects (such as a rapid fastforward through hallways, or layering several shots of the same scene on top of eachother. I get the feeling that if i had seen this during my last years of high school, I would have been inspiried (and eager to join a study abroad programme), so, if you're at a stage in life where you havn't had any deep disappointments nor many great victories, you would probably love this movie, and maybe even be inspired by it. But, to me, this movie was a fairly hollow, occasionally entertaining, but failed (and perhaps admirable) attempt at depicting the pressures, follies, and uncharted territories of life.
Rating:
Summary: Rebirth Under The Spanish Sun
Review: In the tradition of many French films, L'Auberge Espagnole is a warm,well written, coming of age and semi autobiographical movie that is guaranteed to stay with you long after you watch it.Cedric Klapish does a wonderful job in telling a story that at first look does not seem to say much, but hides many realizations, which the viewer will subtley unravel one by one. The plot seems simple enough: Xavier a young French student (played wonderfully by Roman Duris)is preparing his future life and career in the EU commision thanks to his father's connections, provided that he acquires a masters degrees in Spanish economics. He goes to Barcelona,leaving his girlfriend behind (Amelie's Audrey Tatou),and after staying with a French couple he meets at the airport, he finally gets a room in a flat he shares with others European students,from Italy, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Belgium and England.He is estatic about his new lodgings and the good vibes he gets from it, little does he know that his life is about to change forever from that moment on.
His plans for a secure career, and his mundane and sheltered life comes gradually under attack from his experiences with his roommates in a foreign city he comes to love: An affair with the wife of a French doctor (the excellent Judith Godreche)the same couple he stayed with on his arrival,his lesson of seduction by a lesbian (the gorgeous Cecile de France),who becomes his best friend, a friendship first sealed by their common love of the music of Ali Fakre Toure (I thought what an original way to seal a friendship!),and the love of life in all its colours he soon discovers.
The core of the film is not about some Europeans getting together in the spirit of a new Europe, with all their cultural differences and habits, it is rather about a young man who finally discovers who he really is and what he wants from life! Barcelona could be London or Paris or anywhere else for that matter, and the students could have been from any nationality, it does not matter as much as the fact that it is about a journey of self discovery and change, this is what makes the film a masterpiece.
I first thought that there were too many characters in the film which could have easily done without, especially that some students, like the Italian, German and Danish characters are more than extras and not quite developped, but by the end of the film, you do understand why Klapish wrote them all.
Apart from Duris's charater, I thought the English characters were well written and provide most of the humour in the film (brilliantly played by Kelly Reilly and Kevin Bishop).It is always interesting to see how the English are seen and portrayed in French films, and vice versa-The love/hate relationship of the two countries is legendary ever since William the Conqueror woke up one morning and decided to have Fish'n'Chips for lunch-but Klapish,although falling slightly in the cliche of the heavily drunk who can't take his drink, he has a sympathetic eye for the 'neighbors across the channel'.
Klapish's aversion of bureaucracy is very well emphasized: the fast camera shots of the EU corridors, the endless forms he has to fill, the men in grey suits who think they can tell a joke, a world that Xavier realizes he does not belong to.
So L'Auberge Espagnole is a movie about friendships, about self discovery and it is about rebirth, a film that should on no account be missed.
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Summary: Great movie!!
Review: I saw this movie in Madrid twice and think I could still see it another 10 times. This is a great way they portray how Europe comes together in a very crazy way.
Rating: 
Summary: Cedric Klapisch's autobiographical work worth seeing
Review: Romain Duris stars as Xavier, a just-graduated French student. The film picks up with him tentatively seeking out a Euroglot post-grauduate experience in Barcelona before commiting himself to a dreary life of French state bureaucracy. Don't take that a Francaphobe comment. Writer/Director Cedric Klapisch has done some excellent work in the editing room to show the silliness of bureaucratic structure in a Brussels-led European Community. The film clicks along at triple-speed as it trails Xavier's ridiculous, labyrinthine walk through a cavernous government building in Paris to meet in some functionary's office. Xavier's simple request as to how to apply for entry into the "Erasmus" study program is met with a recitation of forms, data, background info, etc. required. Klapisch slaps a blizzard of paperwork up on the screen as the endless recital goes on and on. It's a cute touch. Xavier, however, can't really articulate *why* he wants to go to Barcelona, especially when pressed by girlfriend Martine, charmingly played (what else?) by Audrey Tautou. Of course, when you leave Audrey Tautou behind for reasons you can't articulate, either the character or the film has problems. In this case, it ends up being the character. What Xavier really wants is not to be a bureaucrat all his life. He just can't articulate that until he experiences Barcelona in a "Euro Pudding" setting. With the movie's final twist, you realize that this film is an autobiographical piece from Klapisch telling us how he got to be who he is today. Definitely worth checking out.
Rating:
Summary: A fresh, pleasant Mediterranean breeze
Review: I love Spanish film, I love French film and I loved BArceolona... but none of these prepared me for a modern, witty, exciting, sensual...film about young people making the world to come. Has a film ever been called "gently and optimistically prophetic." It made me want to go live in Europe.. or at least Toronto. And then I remembered it was a film, and I was amazed by its power to take me someplace happy and smiling.
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Summary: Fun and realistic
Review: I went into this film sceptical because I lived in Barcelona on two occassions, once for a year as a student at the University of Barcelona living in a building for Erasmus exhange students. The subject of this movie was too close to my personal experiences. I honestly thought that I would walk out disappointed (like I have from nearly every other film about Barcelona.) But this movie suprised me! No other movie has ever been more accurate in the portrayal of the study abroad experience. Not only that, but the movie gives an accurate portrayal of life in Barcelona and the troubles that foreign students experience there. The linguistic difficulties were realistic, the scenes of Barcelona showed not just the beautiful, touristy parts, but also the scummier parts. Even if you've never studied abroad or been to Barcelona, the movie is just histerical. I laughed so hard. But at the same time, there was so much conflict between characters and within the main character, making the film both touching and profound. The final few minutes are what totally sold me on the film. The resolution took the film to a higher level, one that really makes you take a second look at everything. I LOVED this movie!! I can't wait till it is released on DVD. I'm going to buy it right away!!
Rating:
Summary: House of Crazies in Barcelona
Review: I saw "The Spanish Apartment" (L'Auberge Espagnole) while I was in Madrid in the fall of 2002. I loved it, especially because it is the story of what I was going through. Xavier studies in BARCELONA, not Madrid. Barcelona is a beautiful city full of historic buildings and near the ocean where Madrid is land-locked, still beautiful, but very different. Xavier leaves behind his family and girlfriend in France, and after a long search for an apartment in Spain, he lives with with a group of other students from various places. The film is called "La casa de los locos" in Spanish (translated House of the crazy people). I really like that this film is in different languages. The characters mostly use Spanish, English, and French. It is interesting to watch them all switch back and forth between languages. I also loved the great shots of Barcelona, but my favorite part is the climax, so you really have to watch this film to the end. I won't give anything away, but it's just nice to see how all of the members of the house come together. I would not say they will be friends for life, but Xavier definitely took some great memories and a better understanding of himself home with him (just like I did).
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