Western

If recent movies are any indication, France may be replacing the United States as the multicultural melting pot of the world. Take Manuel Poirier's Western, an offbeat, genial, unexpectedly moving road movie that's a low-key endorsement of the policy of us all getting along.

Set in the Mild West of Brittany, Western follows the misadventures of Spanish-born shoe salesman Paco (James Grodin look-alike Sergi Lopez), which kick off when he's lured into picking up Russian-born hitchhiker Nino (an elfin and engaging Sacha Bourdo) through a ploy reminiscent of It Happened One Night. Nino steals his car, and Paco is picked up in turn by Marinette (Elizabeth Vitali). They fall for each other, but in fairy-tale fashion Marinette orders Paco to leave her for three weeks to determine whether they really love each other.

More serendipity: Paco bumps into Nino, and after putting him briefly in the hospital he bonds with his one-time nemesis and agrees to travel with him on the road until the three weeks are up. Much of this time is spent -- with disastrous results -- trying to get Nino laid; along the way they have farcical encounters with a chainsaw, an Ivory Coast émigré in a wheelchair, and several attractive women who are inexplicably attracted to them. Although the badinage is at times forced and the pace at times listless, Western offers its share of warmth and wisdom before riding off into the sunset.

-- Peter Keough