In this indie cross-cultural romance meets
Sex and the City,
Parker Posey is unexpectedly cast as heroine Nora Wilder, a New-Yorker in her thirties with a cynical outlook on life. Since we’re used to seeing Posey play odd-ball, unusual, quirky roles, she adds dimension and edge to Nora’s somewhat generic character. (After countless casual encounters with men — including a self-centered movie star played by
Justin Theroux — Nora asks herself the cliché “what’s wrong with me” question regarding her unremitting singleness). We don’t immediately fall in love with this heroine — because we’re not used to falling in love with Parker Posey — but that’s okay. She grows on you. It makes
Broken English more than the typical picture-perfect romantic comedy.
The film starts off slow. Whether intentionally or not, the pace parallels the slow drag of Nora’s daily life and routine. Fortunately, this drag is soon interrupted by a mysterious Frenchman, Julien (
Melvil Poupaud), who appears in a prop-like cowboy hat: he’s charming, charismatic, cute, funny, sexy. Combined with his persistent pursuit of Nora despite her difficult, cold, and cynical attitude, Julien seems to be Mr. Perfect. She’s the opposite. He’s impulsive, spontaneous; she’s jaded, realistic. That is, until she decides to jump on a plane to France with her best friend Audrey (
Drea De Matteo) in search of him.
Throughout the couple’s time together, Nora goes from rude and distant to panic-attacked and paranoid to clingy and crying. It’s hard to understand why European Mr. Perfect is so fond of Nora, who doesn’t seem to like anything about herself or her life. It takes a chat with a kooky old French lady and then a wise old man to give Nora some self-value. Like the
Sex and the City characters, she grows on you.
Writer-director
Zoe Cassavetes (the latest sibling of
John’s to take the directing reigns) makes her debut with this stellar international cast, including her real-life mother (
Gena Rowlands) as Nora’s overbearing mom. Though Nora’s life seems familiar, the film has a unique quality and an indie feel. Especially when it follows Nora to France, her demeanor (and that of the film) noticeably brightening as she escapes America’s societal pressures. In addition, the powerful, alternative, sometimes strange music moves the film into genuine territory.
Broken English comes to an end in the middle of the traditional romance story, yet it seems to conclude perfectly. The film is now available through Magnolia Home Entertainment for $26.98.
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# posted by Michal Zebede @ 8/24/2007 11:18:00 AM
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