Le Hasard Fait Bien Les Choses (2002)

Jean-Pierre Muller (Jean-Claude Brialy), un professeur d'université, à l'apogée de sa carrière pour tout le monde. Jean-Pierre est un homme marié, discret, modeste, aux mœurs irréprochables. La vérité c'est qu'il ne s'est jamais résolu à avouer son homosexualité à son entourage et qu'il coule le parfait amour avec Armando (Antonio Interlandi). Pour faire plaisir à sa défunte mère, il a même fait un mariage blanc avec Alice (Sabine Haudepin). Lorsque Jean-Pierre apprend qu'il est contraint de devenir le tuteur d'Antoine (Julien Bravo), il court se plaindre au juge, qui en réponse lui propose l'aide d'une assistante sociale ! Menacé par la visite surprise de cette assistante sociale, craignant qu'elle ne découvre l'étendue de sa double vie, Jean-Pierre décide de demander service à Alice: qu'elle vienne s'installer chez lui le temps que tout cela se tasse ! A l'appartement, Ana, la fidèle bonne a du mal à gérer: une femme à la maison (Alice), un adolescent qui pointe son nez (Antoine), un amant caché furieux (Armando) et un Jean-Pierre contrarié. Avec tout cela, Jean-Pierre a aussi du mal à gérer...

Jean-Pierre Muller (Jean-Claude Brialy), a University professor who is in the height of his career is a married, discreet, modest man of practically good but blameless morals. The truth is at his late age, he has never publicly confessed about his homosexuality, not even to his closest circle. His lover Armando begs him to just be himself and to stop making pretension so that they could always be happy. In fact he even got into an "arranged marriage" with immigration-troubled Alice just to please his late mother. When Jean-Pierre learns that he is forced to become the guardian of Antoine (Julien Bravo), he made a petition to the judge who says that the case would be investigated by a social welfare and will take about three months. Threatened by any surprised visits and fearing that his double life will be out in the open, Jean-Pierre decides to ask Alice for help - to pretend that they are happily married. When Alice moves in, Ana (Elena Noverraz) the Housekeeper finds it so difficult to manage the presence of the new inhabitants of the house but she is happy for Jean-Pierre, the man she highly respects and would always be happy to work for...

LE HASARD FAIT BIEN LES CHOSES (AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, its English title) is a Swiss film originally made for TV. It is one package of comic and heart-warming moments that will suit both gays and straights with a wonderful message about love and acceptance.

(In FRENCH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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Novo (2002)

Graham es incapaz de recordar los acontecimientos durante más de diez minutos; sufre de lo que se llama una MCP: memoria a corto plazo. Irène se enamora de Graham y ella se propone acordarse de todo por los dos. Graham tarda en recuperar la memoria, y los que le quisieron ayer ya no pueden esperar. Y ella, que le quiere hoy, también sufre por no poder entenderle mejor. Si es cierto que enamorarse es, ante todo, construir una historia de amor, ¿Cómo podría Grahan enamorarse de Irène si para él cada día es el primer día y cada vez la primera vez?

Graham (Eduardo Noriega) is unable to remember events for more than ten minutes suffering from PTA - post-traumatic amnesia. Irène falls in love with him and she intends to do all possible so that Graham remembers everything that they do together. Meanwhile, Graham's recovery is taking long and those that loved him in his yesterday cannot wait anymore whilst she who loves him today also suffers for not being able to understand him better. If love is built with history, how can Graham possibly fall in love with Irène when his every day is a new day and every time is the first time?

NOVO is a delightful comedy with a feeling of soft porn which basically represents the innocence of the lead character particularly when he reunites with his son at a deserted beach. Above all it shows how powerful love is...

(In SPANISH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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L'Auberge Espagnole (2002)

Xavier (Romain Duris), un jeune homme de vingt-cinq ans, part à Barcelone pour terminer ses études en économie et apprendre l'espagnol. Cette langue est nécessaire pour occuper un poste, que lui promet un ami de son père, au ministère des finances. Mais pour ce faire, il doit quitter sa petite amie Martine, avec qui il vit depuis quatre ans. En Espagne, Xavier cherche un logement et trouve finalement un appartement dans le centre de Barcelone qu'il compte partager avec sept autres personnes. Chacun de ses co-locataires est originaire d'un pays différent.

25-year old Xavier (Romain Duris) leaves for Barcelona to finish his studies in Economics and learn Spanish. The language is prerequisite to fill a post that was promised to him by the Minister of Finance who happens to be a friend of his father. But to do so, he must leave his girlfriend Martine whom he has lived with for four years. In Spain, Xavier seeks accommodation and finally found an apartment in central Barcelona which he shares with seven other people -- all originating from different countries in Europe.

L'AUBERGE ESPAGNOLE which literally translates to THE SPANISH INN in English and titled EURO PUDDING internationally, is funny, unique, authentic, interesting, witty and absolutely exceptional. It clearly showed the life of an outsider amongst other outsiders in a foreign land. Indeed, a very enjoyable film!

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Ma Vraie Vie à Rouen (2002)

Une camera, celle qui filme, est au centre de cette histoire. C'est un cadeau qu'Etienne (Jimmy Tavares) a eu pour ses seize ans. Grâce à (ou à cause de) cet objet, il va découvrir, en le regardant autrement, le monde qui l'entoure et notamment son prof de géographie. Les rapports que nous entretenons avec notre image et la découverte du désir à l'adolescence, deux thèmes qui ont inspiré les réalisateurs.

The central story is filmed by a video camera which was actually a gift for Etienne (Jimmy Tavares) from his grandmother on his 16th birthday. With it he discovers the world around him particularly the ones involving his geography teacher. The relationships of the images and the discovery of adolescent desires are the two themes depicted in this film.

MA VRAIE VIE A ROUEN (MY LIFE ON ICE, its English title) is filmed like an actual home video but it is rich of personal meaning, that is, of Etienne's. It's touchingly sweet and again we see another dilemma of an adolescent's coming to terms with his sexuality. The character of Etienne is charmingly played by Jimmy Tavares who is a professional figure skater and champion in real life.

(In FRENCH with ENGLISH subtitles)

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The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys (2002)

The film is about a group of Catholic school friends who engage in a series of pranks and general mischief. The boys -- Francis Doyle (Emile Hirsch), Tim Sullivan (Kieran Culkin), Wade Scalisi (Jake Richardson) and Joey Anderson (Tyler Long) -- also collaborate on a comic book they call The Atomic Trinity. Interspersed within the film are segments of animated footage based on the comic book. Guiding them in the school are Father Casey (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Sister Assumpta (Jodie Foster) whilst Margie Flynn (Jena Malone) is one of the boy’s crush.

THE DANGEROUS LIVES OF ALTAR BOYS is amazing -- simply stunning in every aspect. The story is rich and full of heart and is somehow very original. The animation is engaging and shares deep symbolism with their characters' real-life predicaments.

(In ENGLISH with SVENSKA subtitles)

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