Foreign Student (1994)

A French football playing exchange student falls in love.

Director:

Eva Sereny

Writers:

Philippe Labro (novel), Menno Meyjes

Stars:

Robin Givens, Marco Hofschneider, Rick Johnson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Givens	...	April
Marco Hofschneider	...	Philippe Leclerc
Rick Johnson	...	Cal Cate
Charlotte Ross	...	Elizabeth 'Sue Ann' Baldridge
Edward Herrmann	...	Zachary 'Zach' Gilmore
Jack Coleman	...	Rex Jennings
Charles S. Dutton	...	Howlin' Wolf (as Charles Dutton)
Hinton Battle	...	Sonny Boy Williamson
Anthony Herrera	...	Coach Mallard
Bob Child	...	Counselor
David Long	...	Mr. Baldridge
Ruth Williamson	...	Mrs. Baldridge
Michael Reilly Burke	...	Harrison
Michael Goodwin	...	Assistant Coach
Jon Hendricks	...	April's Father

Storyline

Paris, 1955. Philippe Leclerc is overjoyed: he has just been granted the fellowship he applied for and he will be able to study for a year at the prestigious Asheland-Stuart University of Virginia. Once on the spot, he discovers how different the South of the USA is from his native France and the period of adjustment is no bed of roses, notably when he mistakes American football for soccer while playing a game and becomes the laughing stock of the college. Philip nonetheless gains the friendship of the captain of the team and gradually adapts to his new environment, discovering American literature through the lectures of a fascinating professor, rock and roll and jazz, among other things. A Southern belle, Sue Ann, falls for his Latin charm but, unfortunately for her, her love is unrequited and she breaks down nervously as a result. As for Philippe he falls madly in love with April, a beautiful Black domestic worker...

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Plot Keywords:

french | college | france | virginia | paris france | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

Netherlands USA France Italy UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 July 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

Bittersüße Küsse

Filming Locations:

Lexington, Virginia, USA

Box Office

Gross:

$113,727 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carthago Films S.a.r.l., Featherstone, Holland Coordinator and Service Company

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Keep-a-rockin"
Written and Performed by Little Richard

User Reviews

Minor virtues, but not enough

FOREIGN STUDENT

Aspect ratio: 1.85:1

Sound format: Dolby Stereo

Based on Philippe Labro's bestselling memoirs, Eva Sereny's film FOREIGN STUDENT strives valiantly for a sense of lyrical beauty, exemplified by cinematographer Franco Di Giacomo's evocative vision of rural Virginia in 1956, and by the sparse poetic voice-over, much of it presumably lifted from the book. But the narrative suffers from the vacuum of Marco Hofschneider's decidedly uncharismatic performance in the crucial leading role. The central romance lacks passion.