Director Cédric Klapisch is the author of a cult trilogy. It is of course about the adventures of Xavier and his band which started with L’Auberge espagnol. The film and its sequels arrive today on Prime Video.
Twenty years ago, French spectators fell under the spell of Xavier (Romain Duris), a candid of modern times. In The Spanish Inn, his life would change during a year spent in Barcelona as part of the Erasmus program.
There, he seduces Anne-Sophie (Judith Godrèche) despite being in a relationship with Martine (Audrey Tautou). He lives with the English Wendy (Kelly Reilly) and other students from all over Europe. Then he befriends Isabelle (Cécile de France).
The comedy caused a sensation, achieving almost 3 million admissions in France and 4.8 million throughout Europe. This success necessarily calls for a sequel! Three years later, we find Xavier, Wendy, Martine, Isabelle and others in a new waltz of feelings with Russian Dolls which takes place between London and Saint-Petersburg. The success is still there with practically the same number of entries as for the first part.
It was enough to launch a third film. We have to wait until 2013 to see Chinese Puzzle and find the band under new skies. And contrary to what the title might suggest, they don’t live in Shanghai or Beijing. The vagaries of life lead them to New York! If the characters have aged (a little), they have not calmed down. Settled, with children (for some), they live the existential crisis of quarantine and see their lives turned upside down again.
StudioCanal Audrey Tautou and Romain Duris in Chinese Puzzle
This time, the result at the box office is more severe. This third part attracts only 1.4 million curious people in theaters. The saga is not buried and is seen in a TV series with Greek salad, expected soon on Prime Video. It will focus on the children of Xavier and Wendy.
The Spanish Inn, Russian Dolls and Chinese Puzzle are available on Prime Video. Take the opportunity to find our ranking of the best films in the Prime Video catalog.