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The Spanish Apartment Director: Cedric Klapisch Rated: M Trak Cinemas, Palace Nova Cinemas From Thu 18 Dec  Written
and directed by Cedric Klapisch, this is a lovely, light and generally
comic story about a multinational, co-ed, student share-house in Barcelona.
It seems to be a microcosm exemplifying the European Union. The general
trajectory of the slight plot is the mind-broadening twelve months
that a "straight" young Frenchman spends in Barcelona. Famous for
its architecture and partying, the city is a flamboyant presence especially
during the times spent at Antonio Gaudi's 'Sagrada Familia' and his
'Park Guell'.Keen to get on as a Euro-economist, Xavier (Romain Duris) decides to apply for the Erasmus student exchange program to study in Spain for a year and pick up the language. This involves the (unthinkable) leaving behind of his girlfriend, Martine (Audrey Tatou aka 'Amelie'). He soon becomes one of seven members of an anarchic but surprisingly well-run and co-operative household. This "patchwork" film is something of a "jam" of anecdotes about freedom, love and lust with only acts of intolerance and inconsideration being considered taboo. Willy (Kevin Bishop), a latent British soccer-hooligan, embodies these characteristics with his drunkenness and stereotyped views on nationality. Duris was probably more the right age for the lead part here when he starred in 'Gadjo Dilo' over five years ago, though otherwise he acts well. 'Amelie' lovers will flinch occasionally at the slightly less perfect but similar character Tatou plays here. Hers is a relatively small part though, with newcomer Cecile de France playing Isabelle, the main female part, picking up a French Academy award for the role. With a wry voiceover from Duris, some slow and fast motion scenes and music including Ali Farka Toure, Daft Punk and Radiohead's No Surprises, it's an easygoing and often delightful film. School-leavers intending to travel overseas or move into share-houses would find it particularly enlightening, though very few people of any age or circumstances would fail to enjoy and gain from it. |
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