Rating: R
Genre:
Comedy Drama
Theatrical Release: 05/16/2003(USA
Release Date: 12/23/2003
SubTitles: English/Espanol
Dubbed: French/Espanol
Sound: DDS/DD5.1
Run Time: 122 Minutes
Flags: Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Adult Humor, Sexual Situations
Distributor/Studio: 20th Century Fox
A man eager to learn Spanish gets an education he wasn't expecting in this
comedy drama.
Xavier (
Romain Duris) is a French economics student who is nearing the completion of his degree and is looking for work.
Xavier's father arranges for him to meet a ranking member of the Ministry of Finance, who makes him an offer -- he can give him a good job, but only under the condition that he learn to speak Spanish. Determined not to pass up the opportunity,
Xavier enrolls in a language program in Barcelona, despite the misgivings of his girlfriend,
Martine (
Audrey Tautou). Upon his arrival,
Xavier moves into a large house shared by a large group of students from all over Europe.
Xavier finds that his ideas and attitudes are challenged in a positive way by the diverse personalities of his housemates, and that his loyalty to
Martine is tested by his attraction to
Anne-Sophie (
Judith Godrèche), a sweet but lonesome woman from France who has been away from her husband for too long. After a visit, most of
Xavier's roommates decide they don't much care for
Martine and
Xavier gets advice on seducing
Anne-Sophie from an unexpected source --
Isabelle (
Cécile de France), a footloose lesbian living in the house.
L'Auberge Espagnole received its world premier at the
2002 Cannes Film Festival, and went on to earn prizes at the
2002 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the 2003 Lumière Awards, and the 2003 César Awards.
~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide