This amiable journey takes us to four European cities in the course of one day, with stories that feature the stumbles, misunderstandings and possible friendships in a Europe trying to become more unified.
There are some common threads to help us see the pattern. In Moscow, an unpleasant Kate, an English woman, has her luggage stolen and must depend on the kindness of Ludmilla, a middle-aged, buxom Russian woman. Vodka and dill pickles help. In Istanbul, Rocco, a German student fakes the theft of his luggage for the insurance, and then finds himself with Celal, a taxi driver who is determined to help find the thieves, and then help him with the police. In Santiago de Compostela, Gabor, a Hungarian on a pilgrimage to the great places of faith, has his digital camera stolen with all the pictures he's taken. Sergeant Barreira, the local policeman, is helpful in between visits to his wife, mistress and local bar for wine. In Berlin, Claude and Rachida, two street entertainers from France who can't speak German, are having trouble surviving. Faking a mugging and claiming their luggage was stolen seems like a good idea. Well, at least they have each other when two Berlin police are skeptical.
All this happens when, in Moscow, Galatasaray is playing Deportivo la Corunna in soccer's Champion's League Final. If there is one common passion that might unify Europe, it's clear that soccer is that passion. While the crowds wave their teams' flags in the streets of all four cities, even the cops are holed up in their offices watching the game on television. It's also clear that the Euro might not be meeting its advocates' unifying expectations. Every police station and taxi driver we meet keeps whipping out calculators to figure costs in "real" money, their outdated national currencies. There are, thank goodness, no expositions on the human condition or on our common humanity, just four stories where people manage to help others, even if the help is frustratingly arrived at. The only downbeat lesson is that spending a day in a Moscow or Istanbul police station filling out forms is something to avoid.
The four episodes are nicely acted and we get to see parts of four great cities that are off the tourist routes. There are some relationships that are just fine to watch, especially Kate and Ludmilla in Moscow and Rocco and Celal in Istanbul. One Day in Europe may not, in my view, add up to more than four pleasant and amusing stories, but that's a pretty good average for a filmmaker.
There are some common threads to help us see the pattern. In Moscow, an unpleasant Kate, an English woman, has her luggage stolen and must depend on the kindness of Ludmilla, a middle-aged, buxom Russian woman. Vodka and dill pickles help. In Istanbul, Rocco, a German student fakes the theft of his luggage for the insurance, and then finds himself with Celal, a taxi driver who is determined to help find the thieves, and then help him with the police. In Santiago de Compostela, Gabor, a Hungarian on a pilgrimage to the great places of faith, has his digital camera stolen with all the pictures he's taken. Sergeant Barreira, the local policeman, is helpful in between visits to his wife, mistress and local bar for wine. In Berlin, Claude and Rachida, two street entertainers from France who can't speak German, are having trouble surviving. Faking a mugging and claiming their luggage was stolen seems like a good idea. Well, at least they have each other when two Berlin police are skeptical.
All this happens when, in Moscow, Galatasaray is playing Deportivo la Corunna in soccer's Champion's League Final. If there is one common passion that might unify Europe, it's clear that soccer is that passion. While the crowds wave their teams' flags in the streets of all four cities, even the cops are holed up in their offices watching the game on television. It's also clear that the Euro might not be meeting its advocates' unifying expectations. Every police station and taxi driver we meet keeps whipping out calculators to figure costs in "real" money, their outdated national currencies. There are, thank goodness, no expositions on the human condition or on our common humanity, just four stories where people manage to help others, even if the help is frustratingly arrived at. The only downbeat lesson is that spending a day in a Moscow or Istanbul police station filling out forms is something to avoid.
The four episodes are nicely acted and we get to see parts of four great cities that are off the tourist routes. There are some relationships that are just fine to watch, especially Kate and Ludmilla in Moscow and Rocco and Celal in Istanbul. One Day in Europe may not, in my view, add up to more than four pleasant and amusing stories, but that's a pretty good average for a filmmaker.