L'Auberge Espanyol

It's been way too long since I put up a post, and now there'll be a string of posts to compensate. I've never done a movie review before. I figure 'L'Auberge Espanyol' a.k.a 'The Spanish Hostel' is a good start. 
This Spanish experience reminds me for some reason of 'A Good Year' of the Ridley Scott fame. Shot in the majestic mediterranean city of Barcelona, It gives you a feel for the Catalan culture and way of life. The message portrayed is pretty much the same. Sticking to one's roots, finding love and solace, Friendship and trust. 

The protagonists are Romain Duris as Xavier, a cheeky French lad in his mid 20's going through what one would call A mid-life crisis. He's leading a not so happy life in the city of Love-Paris. He's in love with the most desirable Audrey Tatu- who plays Martine, your typical French chick in 'Love', the works! Xavier decides that his life lacks direction so he heads up to Barcelona as part of an exchange program, as he's told it is a pre-requisite for a job with the French Government. So he leaves his caring mother and girlfriend behind, with hopes for a better future. 
On the flight he meets a French couple, and they convince him to stay in their flat. With no place to stay and immediate future uncertain, he agrees to stay and sleep on the couch. He soon feels a slight attraction for Anne-Sophie, and is mindful of the fact that he is in a long distance relationship, so he stays away. Anne is not familiar with Spanish, but Xavier is able to pick things up soon. Cedric Klapisch, the Director, has done a remarkable job in showing how things drift apart, and how distance acts like a kind of barrier for a relationship. 
Xavier decides to move into an apartment with six other people from all over Europe. Together they bond, live through each other's problems and idiosyncrasies. Xavier's distance caters to a growing 'distance' in his love for Martine, and soon they are Kaput! Meanwhile, Xavier discovers that one of his room-mate's a lesbian, so things get a little weird. One night, they get to talking and she tells him precisely how to work a girl.

                                                                 
His lust and yearn for Anne Sophie grows, and soon he is oblivious in that he doesn't honour 'Marriage' and what it stands for. There is a lovely scene with "lust" written all over it. Xavier and Anne are taking an evening walk, when he grabs her behind firmly in such a way that she is unable to move, she arches her hip forward and they end up making love, all the while realising that it is wrong.
L'Auberge Espanyol is about finding your holding ground, leaving things you're familiar with, adapting to variants in environment. It's about leaving, getting back, going about in circles, and much more. It is about how a bond grows, how Friendship is so important. More importantly, it is about following your passions! It is a must watch
rating- 8/10