L'Aubererge Espagnole (2002/2003)
I'm surprised to tell you that "L'Aubererge
Espagnole" is the best film I've seen in 2003 so far.
I loved this film. I didn't even really want to see
it. Its premise, a group of Eurocentric college kids
living in an apartment together in Spain, doesn't
even seem very interesting. I was expecting a sort
of multi-cultural "The Real World." Well, in many
ways, that's exactly what the film is. But "L'Aubererge
Espagnole" has such a huge heart and such a joyous
delight at the world that the film becomes infectious.
We grow to love the characters, in particular the
lead (Kevin Duris as Xavier), and want desperate to
know them. When the film is over, we feel like we
have experienced all that the characters have. They
are our friends, our lovers, our hearts. Seldom does
a film fill the soul with such joy.
The film begins a bit shaky with
some cool but too hip graphics being used to exemplify
the impossible process the protagonist must undergo
to become a student living abroad in Spain. The process
is known as being an "Erasmus" student. The film also
delves into much inner-dialogue of the protag as voice-over
narration, a device I find annoying and a lazy script-writer's
trick. But soon we realize that this introspection
is important for us to understand the character and,
much like the narration in "Y tu mama tambien," becomes
a sort of poetic reverie about the experiences we
are witnessing.
In many ways the film reminded me
of last year's amazing "Y tu mama tambien," except,
of course, it's completely different. The film takes
us on an incredible journey through a foreign landscape
and reveals to us that people seemingly different
than ourselves are, in fact, pretty much the same.
Although Xavier is much more of a blank slate than
the recent graduates in "Y tu mama," they are nonetheless
similar in their youthful ignorance coupled with an
immense desire to see, touch, taste, and experience
the world. Also, there is much sorrow and joy in "L'Aubererge
Espagnole" but it ends on such a wonderful and hopeful
note that we can't help but be enamored by the journey
and its travelers.
Duris may seem wishy-washy as Xavier,
but that's exactly the point. He looks like the French
son of Peter Tomarken, the host of the 80's TV game
show "Press Your Luck," and he has about as much personality.
But after the lengthy set-up, we begin to see the
other characters and the events that happen through
this drab yet nice individual's eyes and come to understand
and enjoy his point of view.
The true star of "L'Aubererge Espagnole"
however is Kevin Bishop ("Food of Love") who appears
in the film's latter third. As a brother of one of
the main circle of characters who live in the apartment,
Bishop disrupts the peaceful harmony in edgy, crude,
crazy and hilarious ways. His interaction with a young
German man is particularly guffaw- inducing. The film
takes all of this, love, hate, joy, pain, drama and
comedy and makes a delightful potpourri of existence
and youth. It is nothing short of cinematic and storytelling
prestidigitation.
"L'Aubererge Espagnole" will definitely
be on my list of the ten best films of 2003. It may
even be at the top.
Note:
Also with Audrey Tatou (in a tiny
role, even though she was given top billing in American
ads). Directed by Cedric Klapisch.
The title seems to literally translate
into "The Spanish Apartment" but other sources say
it means other things. When the protagonist says it
in the film, he is typing "Euro Pudding" on a word
processor. Still, others say it is slang for what
we in America call a "pot luck dinner." I've even
heard that the title is a French slang term for a
"mess." The film was indeed called "Euro Pudding"
and "Pot Luck" in other English speaking countries.
In Spain it was called "Una Casa de Locos" ("House
of the Crazies") The distributors considered several
titles for the American arthouse market, including
"The Spanish Apartment" but eventually settled on
the original title in French.
The film was nominated for and won
several awards including many Canadian Genie awards.
Cecile De France (who played Isabelle) seems to be
a critical favorite.
A song by Radiohead, "No Surprises"
is used quite effectively in the film.
Released in most of Europe in 2002
and in May 2003 in the U.S.
Viewed in Austin in June 2003 at
the Dobie with my roomie Amanda.
