Review of Broken English (2007) by Gökhan A — 18 Apr 2009

For years we've been hearing about how Nick Cassavetes is the new John Cassavetes and suddenly along comes kid sister Zoe who proves to be even more of a chip off the old block.

This is no formulaic rom-com. Parker Posey's Nora is a highly strung woman in her late 30s, permanently single and none too pleased about it.

Her low self-esteem makes it hard for the ultra suave, French Julien to woo her, but he's a persistent bugger.

The film isn't so interested in cute, feel-good cliches, but dwells a lot on the neuroses and depressive nature of someone living in isolation in a big city.

At around the hour mark the story is transported from New York to Paris and the whole rhythm of the film changes, from a structured narrative to something much more meditative and, um, European. I'm sure a lot of people wouldn't like this change in style, but I did.

Not a film to admire for its aesthetic (its pretty murky and colourless) and it doesn't build much of dramatic oomph, but its engaging enough. Posey creates a likable and believable character and Melvil Poupaud is always easy on the eye.