L'Auberge espagnole
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2002 |
| Founder | Cédric Klapisch |
| Products | Romantic comedy-drama film |
L'Auberge espagnole (literally The Spanish Inn), also released as Pot Luck in the UK and The Spanish Apartment in Australia, is a 2002 romantic comedy-drama written and directed by Cédric Klapisch. This joint production between France and Spain follows Xavier, an economics graduate student who spends a year in Barcelona as part of the Erasmus program, living with a group of international students from Western Europe in a shared apartment. The film’s dialogue primarily unfolds in French, but also incorporates English, Spanish, Catalan, Danish, German, and Italian.
Produced on a budget of €5 million (approximately $5.6 million), the movie achieved notable box office success, earning $33.3 million worldwide. It initiated the "Spanish Apartment" trilogy, succeeded by Russian Dolls in 2005 and Chinese Puzzle in 2013. A television continuation titled Greek Salad premiered in 2023.
Plot
Xavier, a 24-year-old Parisian economics graduate, participates in the Erasmus Programme by moving to Barcelona to further his professional prospects, despite objections from his girlfriend Martine. During his flight, he encounters Jean-Michel, a French physician, and his wife Anne-Sophie, who offer him temporary accommodation while he looks for a place to live. Eventually, Xavier moves into a shared flat with students representing England, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Denmark. Despite language barriers and cultural differences, the group develops close connections.
Martine visits but departs feeling disillusioned. Xavier embarks on an affair with Anne-Sophie, guided by seduction advice from Isabelle, his Belgian lesbian flatmate. The arrival of William from England to see his sister Wendy introduces tension due to his direct manner and cultural misunderstandings.
Following Martine’s breakup with him, Xavier falls into depression and experiences hallucinations. After Anne-Sophie admits to the affair, Jean-Michel counsels Xavier to end it. Although conflicts arise among the roommates, they come together to support Wendy when her boyfriend almost catches her with an American man.
Xavier returns to Paris and secures employment at the ministry but soon recognizes how much his time in Spain has transformed him. On his first day at work, he abandons the position to pursue writing about his experiences at the Auberge Espagnole. Ultimately, he reconciles with Martine.
Title
The term auberge espagnole is a French idiomatic expression translating to "Spanish inn" or "Spanish hotel," referring to an establishment where guests bring their own provisions—symbolizing self-sufficiency.
It also corresponds to what English speakers describe as "Going Dutch" or a "potluck," which influenced the film’s English title choices.
Moreover, it denotes a common meeting place for travelers hailing from various cultural backgrounds and regions.
Soundtrack
- Radiohead – "No Surprises"
- Daft Punk – "Aerodynamic"
- Sonia & Selena – "Que Viva La Noche"
- Marc-Antoine Charpentier – "Te Deum"
- Ali Farka Touré – "Ai Du"
- Frédéric Chopin – "Opus 64 No 2 Waltz in C sharp minor"
- Africando All Stars – "Betece"
- Mala Rodriguez – "La Cocinera"
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the movie has earned a 76% approval rating derived from 93 critiques, with an average rating of 6.5 out of 10. The site’s summary highlights, "This multicultural comedy effectively portrays the lively chaos and thrill of youth." Meanwhile, Metacritic gave the film a weighted average score of 65 out of 100 based on evaluations from 31 reviewers, reflecting "generally favorable" feedback.
Accolades
| Award | Category | Nominees | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| César Awards | Best Film | Template:Nom | |
| Best Director | Cédric Klapisch | Template:Nom | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Judith Godrèche | Template:Nom | |
| Most Promising Actress | Cécile de France | Template:Won | |
| Best Original Screenplay or Adaptation | Cédric Klapisch | Template:Nom | |
| Best Editing | Francine Sandberg | Template:Nom | |
| Lumière Awards | Best Screenplay | Cédric Klapisch | Template:Won |
| Most Promising Actress | Cécile de France | Template:Won | |
| Brisbane International Film Festival | Audience Award | Template:Won | |
| Karlovy Vary International Film Festival | Audience Award | Template:Won | |
| Sydney Film Festival | Audience Award | Template:Won |