Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Reviews
Product Description
Inter-European rites-of-passage comedy drama about seven students of different nationalities sharing a flat in Barcelona. Romain Duris stars as Xavier, a French economics student who, through a connection of his father's, is offered a good job at the Ministry of Finance on the condition that he learns Spanish. He immediately enrols on a language programme in Barcelona, despite the misgivings of his girlfriend, Martine (Audrey Tautou, star of 'Amelie') and moves into 'l'auberge Espagnole' (the Spanish apartment), where the diverse personalities of his fellow housemates change his life forever. The film premiered at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By M. B. Alcat
"L'Auberge Espagnole" allows us to see what happens in a year in the life of Xavier (Romain Duris), a young man from France who has been promised a job in the French bureaucracy if he is fluent in Spanish. Thus, he applies to the Erasmus programme, in order to study in Barcelona (Spain) for a year.
Xavier leaves his parents and his girlfriend Martine (Audrey Tautou) behind, but he meets lots of new people and survives to cultural shock. He also starts an affair with the lonely wife of another Frenchman, and goes to Economy classes at the university. But what will charm the viewer is the chaotic life Xavier will have in the apartment he will share with other foreign students. In a way, the apartment is a little piece of the European Union, with people from Italy, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Spain and France. Of course, there are lots of linguistic misunderstandings, but also an enormous amount of amusing situations and good-natured fun.
I specially appreciated the fact that the scriptwriter and the director (Cedric Klapisch) managed to convey many of the phases a foreign student goes through. For example, when Xavier says that "When you first arrive in a new city, nothing makes sense", but "After you've lived here, walked these streets, you'll know them inside out. You'll know these people. Once you've lived here, crossed this street 10, 20, 1000 times... it'll belong to you because you've lived there".
At the end, Xavier learns Spanish, but also about friendships, relationships and himself. In a way, watching this movie will allow you to be "there" with him throughout the whole process. And truth to be told, that is many things but never boring. Give this movie a try, I promise it is fun :)
Xavier leaves his parents and his girlfriend Martine (Audrey Tautou) behind, but he meets lots of new people and survives to cultural shock. He also starts an affair with the lonely wife of another Frenchman, and goes to Economy classes at the university. But what will charm the viewer is the chaotic life Xavier will have in the apartment he will share with other foreign students. In a way, the apartment is a little piece of the European Union, with people from Italy, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Spain and France. Of course, there are lots of linguistic misunderstandings, but also an enormous amount of amusing situations and good-natured fun.
I specially appreciated the fact that the scriptwriter and the director (Cedric Klapisch) managed to convey many of the phases a foreign student goes through. For example, when Xavier says that "When you first arrive in a new city, nothing makes sense", but "After you've lived here, walked these streets, you'll know them inside out. You'll know these people. Once you've lived here, crossed this street 10, 20, 1000 times... it'll belong to you because you've lived there".
At the end, Xavier learns Spanish, but also about friendships, relationships and himself. In a way, watching this movie will allow you to be "there" with him throughout the whole process. And truth to be told, that is many things but never boring. Give this movie a try, I promise it is fun :)
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Tim Kidner
TOP 500 REVIEWER
This is a friendly, quite fun film that explores European identity and young people getting along - or at least trying to. I'm writing this is as an older person who was never been a student, but was that age, once.
Xavier (Romain Duras), a Parisian who wants to study Economics, goes on an exchange programme to Barcelona and the film charts his successes - and failures - along the way. There's everything from change of language, that Catalan is spoken instead of Spanish at his University and of, course, finding accommodation - that scourge of all students.
When he does finally find somewhere, it's already populated by an assortment of students each from a different country (I think!), including an English girl from London, Kelly Reilly, who happens to end up doing most of the housework. This naturally conjures up the expected sort of mischiefs and misunderstandings, humorous rather than hilarious, more real life than made up comedy. It's during these nicely scatty and warm interludes when the film shines brightest.
Some have accused the individual relationships of both Xavier and Wendy (Reilly) of weakening the strength of the story, but I disagree. They add to the movie's 2 hour length, admittedly and as since both play away from home, so to speak, there's some twists and turns. I enjoyed Xavier's more, partly because his French girlfriend that he leaves behind is the amazingly gorgeous Audrey Tatou (a great excuse to watch the film) and the girl he gets to know intimately, from when she suffers a dizzy spell high up on the Church of Sagrada Familia, the equally lovely Cecile de France, who happens to be married to a neurosurgeon.
Many parts are akin to a backpacker's guide, with lots of street scenes and stuff, which are nice to look at, of course.... Read more ›
Xavier (Romain Duras), a Parisian who wants to study Economics, goes on an exchange programme to Barcelona and the film charts his successes - and failures - along the way. There's everything from change of language, that Catalan is spoken instead of Spanish at his University and of, course, finding accommodation - that scourge of all students.
When he does finally find somewhere, it's already populated by an assortment of students each from a different country (I think!), including an English girl from London, Kelly Reilly, who happens to end up doing most of the housework. This naturally conjures up the expected sort of mischiefs and misunderstandings, humorous rather than hilarious, more real life than made up comedy. It's during these nicely scatty and warm interludes when the film shines brightest.
Some have accused the individual relationships of both Xavier and Wendy (Reilly) of weakening the strength of the story, but I disagree. They add to the movie's 2 hour length, admittedly and as since both play away from home, so to speak, there's some twists and turns. I enjoyed Xavier's more, partly because his French girlfriend that he leaves behind is the amazingly gorgeous Audrey Tatou (a great excuse to watch the film) and the girl he gets to know intimately, from when she suffers a dizzy spell high up on the Church of Sagrada Familia, the equally lovely Cecile de France, who happens to be married to a neurosurgeon.
Many parts are akin to a backpacker's guide, with lots of street scenes and stuff, which are nice to look at, of course.... Read more ›
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
I watched this with high expectations as many people had told me it was a great film. However, I didn't expect it to be as brilliant as it was. Its funny, moving and transporting and shows Barcelona in its best light - through the youth and diversity of the city. So many uni/ twenty-something films are often slightly cringeworthy and the characters really stereotypical but this film managed to be fresh and funny and allow you to really connect with the characters - Xavier in particular. I loved the subtle but believable tensions between the characters. There wasn't anyone that really let the film down - although the English brother did get on my nerves I have to say! Its a vibrant, fun and uplifting film and one that will inspire you to get out there and travel more! I highly recommend it.
8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By J. Read
Amazon Verified Purchase
I spent my erasmus year in france, but the film still brought back a thousand memories. It really did make me laugh, the plight of the masses of paper work, and endless hours in airports, along with the amazing fun that goes on during a year abroad all comes accross very accurately in the film.
I would reccommend it to anybody who enjoys foreign language films, it's a must see!
I would reccommend it to anybody who enjoys foreign language films, it's a must see!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By "emilie01"
Pot Luck (or L'Auberge Espagnol) is the best film I have seen in a LONG time. I first saw it with my French class at the cinema, and the moment it finished we just couldn't stop talking about how great it was. It makes you want to pack your bags and jump on the first plane to Barcelona! I would recommend it 100%.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful
By Russian Doll
Being an English girl who does not speak *any* French, and due to the fact that I shamefully admit to buying this DVD only really because Audrey Tautou features, I was a little uncertain about whether I find find it as enticing as, say, the gem that is Amelie.
I can honestly say this is one of those films that will have you pondering the world for half an hour after it ends. It will make you feel nostalgic about being a student or travelling, remind you of foreign friends, make you hate arrogant Londoners that little bit more (no, I am just kidding!), you might suddenly want to put more effort into that long-distance relationship and hell, you might just actually want to travel to Barcelona tomorrow!
I hate reviews that spoil the film, so I will not reveal any of the plot. All I can say is this - whoever you are, wherever you're from, this film will affect you, because almost every one of us has experienced a little of what Xavier goes through in this film. (Even if it's only the whole 'red files, yellow files, blue files' at the end - I would have done exactly what Xavier did when he saw this!) Watch this inspiring film and you'll know what I mean!
I can honestly say this is one of those films that will have you pondering the world for half an hour after it ends. It will make you feel nostalgic about being a student or travelling, remind you of foreign friends, make you hate arrogant Londoners that little bit more (no, I am just kidding!), you might suddenly want to put more effort into that long-distance relationship and hell, you might just actually want to travel to Barcelona tomorrow!
I hate reviews that spoil the film, so I will not reveal any of the plot. All I can say is this - whoever you are, wherever you're from, this film will affect you, because almost every one of us has experienced a little of what Xavier goes through in this film. (Even if it's only the whole 'red files, yellow files, blue files' at the end - I would have done exactly what Xavier did when he saw this!) Watch this inspiring film and you'll know what I mean!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
2.0 out of 5 stars
Anyone remember "Mind Your Language"?
* Review based on the Cinémoi channel screening of "Pot Luck".
My apologies for bringing up a corny 70's sit-com which should perhaps be left forgotten, but that... Read more
My apologies for bringing up a corny 70's sit-com which should perhaps be left forgotten, but that... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Cartimand
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Fun Movie
Xavier is a young French man who wants to study economics. He doesn't want to stay in Paris, he wants to go elsewhere, so he decides Barcelona is a great place to go. Read more
Published on 18 April 2009 by DL Productions UK
5.0 out of 5 stars
Visceral fun
I totally love this film (and its soundtrack, though it doesn't work so well out of context, in case you're tempted to order the CD). Read more
Published on 24 Mar 2009 by GreyTee
1.0 out of 5 stars
Just say 'non'
Oh my God, I loathed this film. It's the celluloid equivalent of a French exchange student in stone-washed jeans and slip-on shoes, carrying a really big, brightly coloured... Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2008 by International Cowgirl
1.0 out of 5 stars
Learning Spanish in Barcelona? How about Catalan?
I have watched the film and as a British citizen of Catalan origins I could not believe what I saw!
The film shamelessly portrays a film where almost everything is... Read more
The film shamelessly portrays a film where almost everything is... Read more
Published on 25 Jan 2008 by Congost
5.0 out of 5 stars
This one stays with you
I can't say enough about how good this film was but what got me thinking afterwards, apart from what others have said, was how different this would have been as an American... Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2007 by P. Bolos
3.0 out of 5 stars
Neither here nor there
I went to see a special screening of this film yesterday after having this on my wish list for a good few months. Read more
Published on 14 May 2007 by E. Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Follow Up
I saw the follow up film Russian Dolls yesterday at the Filmhouse Edinburgh and it's EVEN better that Pot Luck which I enjoyed hugely - all the sama characters are there and... Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2006
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
