Film: Pot Luck
Release date: 25th October 2004
Certificate: 15
Running time: 135 mins
Director: Cedric KlapischStarring: Romain Duris, Judith Godreche, Audrey Tautou, Cecile De France, Kelly Reilly
Genre: Comedy/Romance/Drama
Studio: Cinefile
Format: DVD
Country: France/Spain
When you’re a recent graduate in the prime of your life, settling down with that special someone and devoting yourself to the monotony of a nine to five is not particularly appealing. So what do you do when faced with such a bleak reality? Move to Spain, of course!
Overwhelmed by the expectations everyone else has for him, Xavier (Romain Duris) finds himself confused and frustrated by his life. With a father pushing him through every door he can possibly open to kick start his career, and a mother who is afraid of letting go of her little boy, a change of scenery may not be a bad idea. What starts out as a tediously necessary study year in Barcelona turns into an exhilarating, self exploratory learning curve.
Floundering in unknown territory, a coincidental run in with French newly weds Anne-Sophie (Judith Godrèche) and Jean-Michel (Xavier De Guillebon) provides Xavier with a lot more than the sanctuary he initially turns to them for.
Dissatisfied with his relationship with manipulative girlfriend Martine (Audrey Tautou), Xavier persuades himself that the distance between them is reason enough to strike up an affair with the desperately lonely Anne-Sophie. Enough excitement for most, this is just the tip of the iceberg for Xavier, who finds himself sharing an apartment with six other students from all over Europe.
Back at the shared apartment, or L’auberge Espagnole, to use the film’s original title, the life Xavier has forged with his flatmates acts more like a catalyst for their spontaneous behaviour, as opposed to the reality check he is craving with regard to his forbidden lover...
Writer and director Cédric Klapisch has taken the angle of light-hearted student drama in his stride with this offering, which is as charming as it is multicultural. Klapisch subtly draws on the subject of European integration, throwing together seven beautiful young people into the same apartment in the name of education on a budget. Along with French Xavier is Belgian Isabelle (Cécile de France, who won the César Award for Most Promising Actress for the role), uptight Brit Wendy (Kelly Reilly), Lars (Christian Pagh) from Denmark, Italian Alessandro (Federico D’Anna), German Tobias (Barnaby Metschurat), and the only native Spaniard, Soledad (Christina Brondo).
Thankfully, the film avoids stereotyped characterisation to drive the narrative of the flatmates’ struggle to coexist in a foreign country, with limited communicative skills alongside their ongoing studies. Instead, and to the credit of Klapisch, the European stereotypes are provided by Wendy’s visiting brother William (Kevin Bishop). Encapsulating the typical ‘Brit abroad’, William manages to upset and get under the feet of everybody in the house within a matter of days. Obliviously insulting with every word he utters, William is slowly accepted by the group, joining them for the rest of shenanigans. At first, it seems that William is merely there to add to the already overflowing pool of eye candy, and the occasional cheap laugh, but his purpose becomes clear as he befriends the others. His initiation period in the house serves to explain and visualise the lessons each of the housemates have had to learn about tolerance and compromise in order to get to their state of discordantly affectionate harmony.
Surprisingly, the diverse ensemble cast isn’t overkill and the group work well together. While there is clearly some talent in the form of Duris, Reilly, De France and Bishop, the addition of Tautou seems unnecessary. Although her character is central to Xavier’s decisions, remaining an important factor in his life right to the very end, the film does not gain anything by having such an internationally well-known actress in that role.
Despite so many languages being featured, Klapisch reminds the audience that this is a French production with Xavier’s narration, which keeps the audience in the loop with his point of view. A device which reinforces the fact that this story is essentially about the growth of Xavier and his journey - the narration would not have been missed.
Stylistically, it is simple but effective. Scenes of bureaucracy are sped up in an attempt to signal Xavier’s indignation with the guidelines he has to follow in order to succeed, while scenes of enjoyment are slowed down and repeated, signalling Xavier’s desire to prolong them.
French cinema for beginners, Pot Luck eases even the most apprehensive viewer into a comfortable balance of reading the subtitles and feasting on the visual simplicity of modest world cinema. Easy on the eye and the mind, it is endearing through and through, even when it shouldn’t be. JHA
