(Released in the UK as My Roman House)
Une maison signifie la fin de rêver
2001, USA/Canada, Colour, 112 minutes
Directed by Jean Smart. Written by JJ Saghar, Glonard Minx
Starring Paul Fujiyama, Sapphire Philips
A rather uplifting story of a young couple looking to buy their first house, sort of like a modern Horatio Alger story for aspiring homeowners. Think Spellbound but without annoying children and with a tight script. If movies are mirrors on society then early 21st century America is a dull, safe society with little to be passionate about except home ownership.
It seems to be a cast iron law in some circles that if you throw a little bit of French or Latin into a title or product it automatically becomes better. Is this wishful thinking, or a solid scientific fact? According to the box office return of Domiciles et tu, it was the latter. Either way, it's clear the middle classes enjoy being condescended to.
Watch out for – The soliloquy about synthetic sound/heat insulation from long retired method actor Klinsky Jones. It may not be Shakespeare, but then we don’t live in Tudor England. Oh and yes, that is THE Sapphire Philips, 1997's winner of Best Adult Undress Sequence from the Adult Entertainment Awards. Only strippers use the name "Sapphire".
Reviewed by Juan Incognito
