If you want to see a film that makes you feel young again, then the French film The Spanish Apartment should do the trick.
It was so easy to relate to the personality and adventures of young French student Xavier who decides that it’s time for a change. He leaves his family, and his long time and aggrieved girlfriend behind, and heads to Barcelona for a year.
After his mother’s arrangement in Barcelona, fails to materialize, Xavier takes up a flat-share, sharing an apartment with people from six different countries.
What an eventful year ensues. Xavier has an affair with a married woman, bored by her recent marriage to a career obsessed man. He quickly adjusts to the over stimulation in his home life, and loves his tiny, poster filled bedroom.
Xavier even learns some new skills such as fending off the grumpy landlord, when he makes an unexpected visit.
On happier occasions, together with his flatmates, he paints the town red.
The year abroad also has its growing up pains. His girlfriend visits him, and the feelings between them are no longer the same. When he finally does go home, it will be something he will have to finally resolve.
There was a hint towards the films’ end that this film was autobiographical in nature. If so, writer/director Cedric Klapisch has created a warm and immensely entertaining memoir to his younger years.
With such a large cast the performances were a little varied. Romain Duris was an elegant and confident lead, the pick of his flatmates was a fetching performance by Kelly Reilly as the lone Englishwoman, Wendy, the default head of the household.
The Spanish Apartment has some truly funny scenes that will fondly stay in the memory.
Summing up, this was an immensely likable film, and one that does bring back that exciting period in life, when one breaks out on one’s for the first time, and gets to sow some of those wild oats.
