Search - The Spanish Apartment on DVD

MPAA Rating: R Content Advisory: Brief Nudity, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Adult Humor, Sexual Situations Movie Release: 2002 DVD Release: 12/23/2003 Format: DVD - Enhanced Wide Screen Letterbox for 16x9 TV,Pan and Scan - Closed Captioned Audio Tracks: French, Spanish Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 1 Number of Discs: 1 Run Time: 2 hrs 2 mins Studio: 20th Century Fox Members Wishing: 2 Genres: Comedy Drama, Romantic Comedy, Ensemble Film

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

Romain Duris - Xavier
Cécile De France - Isabelle
Judith Godrëche - Anne-Sophie
Audrey Tautou - Martine
Kelly Reilly - Wendy

A rooming house in Barcelona plays host to an array of romantic misadventures and personal misunderstandings in this well-respected comedy, which has been given a well-executed presentation for its North American debut on DVD. The Spanish Apartment (aka L'Auberge Espagnole) has been given two transfers for this release -- a letterboxed version in the widescreen aspect ratio of 1.85:1 (which is enhanced for anamorphic playback on 16 x 9 monitors), and a pan-and-scan transfer in the full-frame ratio of 1.33:1. The original French-language soundtrack is mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1, while the Spanish version is in Dolby Digital Surround; the disc also includes optional subtitles in English and Spanish. No additional bonus materials appear on this release. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide