Ni Pour, Ni Contre.

Eschewing the making of elitist films, French writer/director Céedric Klapisch strives to appeal to a wide population with his largely humorous yet thought-provoking narratives that look compellingly at the relationship between individuals and community. Three of his films that have received U.S. releases-Chacun cherche son chat [When the Cat's Away], L'Auberge espagnole [The Spanish Apartment], and Les Poupées russes [The Russian Dolls]-reflect numerous unresolved issues that have threatened the harmony of French society in the last decade. His films provide a symbolic jramework for exploring current social issues of gentrification and immigration, questions about national identity, and sovereignty concerns that affect union with other European nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]