The Chateau

'Everyone knows dark passions, sensuality and sexuality, everyone has a dark side. These normal human characteristics form a gold mine for artists.' According to Jesse Peretz about his first feature, First Love, Last Rites, winner of the Fipresci Prize in Rotterdam in 1998. While Peretz has made a very different film with The Chateau, he again turns out to be a dab hand at digging.The setting is a chateau in the French countryside that is dogged by bad maintenance. The American brothers Graham and Allen (a.k.a. Rex) Granville have heard that they have inherited the building. When they arrive, their communication with the resident French staff is difficult. Not only because of the language barrier, but also because of a conflict of interests: the brothers feel forced to sell the castle. The whole situation - with of course a surprising dénouement - gives rise to a succession of often-hilarious scenes, in which the well-chosen cast has plenty of room to shine. For instance in the scene where Paul Rudd (Clueless, The Cider House Rules) informs the staff, in a speech he has compiled using a pocket dictionary, about the sale of the castle.The Chateau is an irresistible humorous and original film, made with much love, obvious pleasure and a limited budget. It demonstrates Peretz' craftsmanship that this latter point is not visible for a moment.