Improvised around an outline by director Jesse Peretz, “The Chateau” is a marvelous look at a culture clash. I’ve always loved languages (though I only know English and a very small amount of Spanish) and watching the American characters here struggle with French is just hilarious and beautiful. Peretz makes it even more amusing by playing with the subtitles to show us just how bad their French is.

The plot of the film centers around two American brothers who inherit a French chateau, a castle, from a long-lost uncle. Paul Rudd is exceptionally brilliant as Graham, the nerdy, artistic type (he could have come from Austin) who is in therapy and never seems to be able to say the right thing at the right time. Rudd mumbles and stumbles his way through the film like an American relative of Peter Sellers’ Inpector Closeau. Meanwhile Romany Malco as Allen, Rudd’s adopted black brother, is a modern Uncle Tom cliché threatening to burst at the seams. A self-made man, Allen sells medicine for the penis (he calls himself a dick doctor) over the Internet and prefers to be called Rex.

When the brothers arrive in France to see their chateau, they are surprised at the staff remaining in the castle who expect them to be their saviors. The chateau, you see, is in need of much repair and has several debts to be paid. Here is where the wonderful culture clash begins and it goes beyond the simplistic Americans vs. French to include also class structure and wealth as well. The brothers also fall for the young housekeeper, Isabelle, compounding not only the culture clash but the hurt feelings between the adopted siblings and the decision making process in what should be done with the estate.

Amusing, charming and bursting with energy, “The Chateau” only suffers from an ugly DV to 35mm transfer. Often, especially in dark scenes, the film looks grainy and dark. But, perhaps, this is just another symbolic metaphor of the film’s look at wealth, status, social structure and colonialism.

Note:

Also with Donal Logue.

Seen at SXSW 2002.

To be released by IFC in May 2002.

Report Card Script: B+ Acting: A+ Cinematography\Lighting: D- Special Effects\Make Up: B+ Music: C Final Grade: A-

And Help Support Filethirteen! Get Your "The Chateau" Stuff... Search: All Products Books Popular Music Classical Music Video DVD Toys & Games Baby Computer & Video Games Electronics Software Tools & Hardware Outdoor Living Kitchen & Housewares Camera & Photo Wireless Phones Keywords: