Languages and The European Film

This is a marvellous story by Mercier, the author of the book it is based on. Still, from the beginning on I was baffled by how they had composed the language question. For a while I thought they had made the main character an Englishman residing in Switzerland. Then, still very early on, he finds the book and reads it in Portuguese. They even discuss the Portuguese title with the antiquarian.

I was very thrilled at this point, since I did not know how the movie would fold out.

Then it quickly turns out that there are mainly just British actors playing the Portuguese, with you know, a French Actress and then the double-Germans playing the young and old Jorge. And it is just English. Some people have some sort of accents and some people speak with a genuine English accent. Like the great Charlotte Rampling who plays the older Adriana. She is supposed to be Portuguese just as much as his brother Amadeu, who is also played by a Brit but with a hispanic accent.

So this is all very confusing, especially since European filmmaking has seen many a good film with crossing of languages. When in Germany, german is spoken etc. This is definitely the strong suite of being European also, as opposed to American cinema. I think it is of paramount importance.

Furthermore, I found the British-German cast to play the parts of Portuguese people quite flawed. I mean the characteristics of people from Southern Europe, the intensity, the hazzle, the overwhelming emotinal demeanor. It was all done in a way too 'cool' manner by the anglo-saxons.

So like I said, the story is very good, but I had problems with how being European was being presented. And, it is a major theme in the book/film after all.

Please discuss.