Albergue Espanhol

In France, Xavier (Romain Duris) is a young economist of twenty and something years, trying to get a job in a governmental department through a friend of his father. He is advised to have a specialization in Spanish economy and language to get a good position. He decides to apply in an European exchange program called "Erasmus" and move to Barcelona to improve his knowledges in Spanish culture and language. She leaves his girlfriend Martine (Audry Tautou), promising to keep a close contact with her, and once in Barcelona, he is temporarily lodged by a French doctor Jean-Michel (Xavier de Guillebon) and his young and lonely wife Anne-Sophie (Judith Godrèche) he had met in the airport. Later, he moves to an apartment with international students: the English Wendy (Kelly Reilly), the Spanish Soledad (Cristina Brondo), the Italian Alessandro (Fédérico D'anna), the Danish Lars (Christian Pagh) and the German Tobias (Barnaby Metschurat). Then the Belgium Isabelle (Cécile de France) and Wendy's brother William (Kevin Bishop) join the group, and Xavier learns Spanish language, and finds friendship and love in his experience living abroad. "L' Auberge Espagnole" is one of those movies the viewer becomes sad when it ends. The story is a delightful and funny tale of friendship and love, in a globalized world and an unified Europe. This very charming movie made me feel good and happy, although I have never experienced to live in a republic of students. The newcomer William provokes the funniest situations along the story, with his big mouth and short brain. Further, it great to see a fresh approach of students living together different from those dumb American fraternities and their stereotypes, common in American movies. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Albergue Espanhol" (Spanish Auberge")

friendship, ages, community, small human map of E.U., French style to present a world far of limits , delicate feelings, reflection in the others, love, adventures, common existence, trips, joy, search of sense, invention of experiences and sentimental connections. a film about evolution and self definition. nothing complicated. but profound analyse of escapes, dreams and importance of gesture as skin of words. a picture of young people as picture of a very strange and, in same measure, common, Europe. a message of hope. with crumbs of courage, sentimental complications, personal problems, need of friends and importance of meeting. the first virtue - its fresh seductive air. the second virtue - its art to be perfect mirror of a generation. the last virtue - unspoken words, mixture of realism and poetry and the waters of emotions. a love story. for a continent as part of its citizens.

This is a very well done film showing the life of international students during their "Erasmus year" in Barcelona which by the way is one of the most beautiful towns in Europe and is an ideal location.

The idea itself with all the different languages is great and gives the film an original atmosphere. There are some clichés about the countries but most of them are true! The characters could not better represent their different countries.

Having experienced "Erasmus" on myself during my exchang semester in Italy I can say that is movie is incredibly authentic. I had many experiences which were similar to the characters (except I didn't get laid as often). The movie is also quite funny yet not like all those stupid American college movies.

Finally the movie touches also some important issues like the change from student to work life.

9/10 (I may not be very objective though)

There are a few things in life that we can't experience more than once and the college experience is one of them. Especially if we're living in a foreign country and in a apartment with 6 wackos from 6 different countries. Xavier the main character leaves his tidy life in Paris, his ex-hippy mother and his beautiful girlfriend and goes to Barcelona to study spanish in order to get a job at the embassy. He falls in love with the wife of a french doctor and he makes friends that make him look at things differently. When Wendy's brother (Wendy is one of the room mates) comes from England the film starts to become a lot funnier. Well anyway, Xavier starts to see things differently with all his new friends and he probably lives something he will never forget and will change his life forever. Overall a very nice nostalgic film, which becomes even more interesting because of the multinational cast. I thought it was very interesting that you could see all these kids from different countries, all of them speaking different languages and having different cultures get along with each other and fun. I gave it a 9 out of 10 because I left the theatre with a smile on my face and thinking about things I haven't done yet while I'm still in college and would want to do before it's too late.

This is a very good film on so many levels. Mostly, because it is such a memory-inducing film for me and I suspect for many.

Xavier (Romain Duris) is a French grad student going to Barcelona to learn economics and Spanish to be more competitive in the new European job market. Sadly, he left behind his girlfriend (Audrey Tautou) and family to seek new learning. His first words on arriving are prophetic: Xavier: When you first arrive in a new city, nothing makes sense. Everything's unknown, virgin... 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. That was about to happen to me, but I didn't know it yet.

As one who has absorbed dozens of new cities in Europe and the US, I can immediately relate. There is an anxiety that cannot be described that will only subside when you are fully immersed in the culture. Xavier did that and it changed his life. It can only be felt by someone who leaves the protection of their life and culture as he did.

But, he had fun doing it. He made friends with Isabelle (Cécile De France), a lesbian that taught him about women, which came in handy with Anne-Sophie (Judith Godrèche), with whom he was having an adulterous liaison. He mixed with German, Dutch, Spanish, and English - even Wendy's (Kelly Reilly) obnoxious brother (Kevin Bishop), who really saved the day for his sister.

All-in-all a very funny coming of age comedy with a European twist that made it a delight.