Catalonian Paco is a traveling rep for a shoe manufacturer. When he stops to pick up Russian emigree hitchhiker Nino, Paco soon finds himself on the side of the road with everything stolen out from under him. Local gift shop owner Marinette gives the Spaniard a lift. Their mutual attraction manifests itself quickly, and Paco, who was fired over the stolen-car episode, hangs around. When he happens to spot Nino in the same town, he beats up the scrawny Russian, who lands in the hospital. Oddly enough, this marks the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Paco and Nino soon take the trip down the road together
A charmer from France that feels like a throwback to the 1960s, when foreign films flooded art- house cinemas.
– Peter Stack,
San Francisco Chronicle,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
A funny, romantic film filled with cozy intimacies and lovely, wide-screen images of the French countryside.
– Janet Maslin,
New York Times,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
One of the most refreshing aspects of Manuel Poirier's Western ... is the way it explodes many common notions about France and French movies.
– Jonathan Rosenbaum,
Chicago Reader,
1 Jan 2000
rotten:
The adventures are arbitrary, the cuteness of the men grows wearing, and when Nino has an accident with a chainsaw, we can see contrivance shading off into desperation.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
A delightfully subtle and perceptive blend of romantic comedy and road movie.